Actually, according to the producers ...

"Wholesome Sweeteners' Organic Zero is produced from Organic Sugar Cane Juice, which is naturally fermented and crystallized to create first Organic Erythritol (not sure what the first is all about?). Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar that is found in our bodies, as well as in fruits, and in fermented foods such as soy sauce".

And here is some info from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol (a type of sugar substitute) which has been approved for use in the United States and throughout much of the world. It occurs naturally in fruits and fermented foods. At industrial level, it is produced from glucose by fermentation with a yeast, Moniliella pollinis. It is 60-70% as sweet as table sugar yet it is almost non-caloric, does not affect blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is absorbed by the body, therefore unlikely to cause gastric side effects unlike other sugar alcohols. Under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling requirements, it has a caloric value of 0.2 calories per gram (95% less than sugar and other carbohydrates), but some countries like Japan label it at 0 calories.

In the body, erythritol is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine, and then for the most part excreted unchanged in the urine. Because erythritol is normally absorbed before it enters the large intestine, it does not normally cause laxative effects as are often experienced after over-consumption of other sugar alcohols (such as xylitol and maltitol) and most people will consume erythritol with no side effects. This is a unique characteristic, as other sugar alcohols are not absorbed directly by the body in this manner, and consequently are more prone to causing gastric distress.

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Interesting stuff for sure ... and it has no "bitter aftertaste" like the artificial sweeteners do I have read that you still shouldn't consume huge massive quantities though, as it could then cause a laxative effect, but in moderation, in cocoa and in baking etc., it's great to have a "healthy" alternative that actually tastes great