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SweeGen, Ingredion announce commercialisation of BESTEVIA Reb D

2 Aug 2017

SweeGen and Ingredion have announced a new addition to the line of stevia leaf sweeteners with the commercialisation of BESTEVIA Reb D as another option for sugar reduction in foods and beverages.

SweeGen and Ingredion have announced a new addition to the line of stevia leaf sweeteners with the commercialisation of BESTEVIA Reb D as another option for sugar reduction in foods and beverages. BESTEVIA Reb D is said to provide additional flexibility for formulators looking to match the time intensity response curve of sucrose.

Rebaudioside D (Reb D) and Rebaudioside M (Reb M) are steviol glycosides found in the stevia leaf that can be used as sweeteners in food and beverage applications. What the company describes as unique patented processes that start with the stevia leaf enabled SweeGen to introduce BESTEVIA Reb M and now BESTEVIA Reb D to the beverage and food industries as alternatives to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

In February 2017, SweeGen commercialised BESTEVIA Reb M, the company's first FDA GRAS approved stevia leaf sweetener. BESTEVIA Reb M has, the company says, been well received by major food and beverage companies in the US, Europe and Asia. The BESTEVIA Reb D GRAS self-affirmation was completed in June this year and was immediately submitted to the FDA for review.

"Our growing sweetener platform offers our industry partners an expanding choice to replace caloric and artificial sweeteners in consumer products,” said Steven Chen, the company's CEO. “SweeGen's sweetener portfolio offers great-tasting, non-caloric and nature-based alternatives for the global consumer." He added, "The introduction of BESTEVIA Reb D represents yet another strong achievement for SweeGen in the natural sweetener market."

"We can now offer an additional option for sugar reduction without compromising taste," said Oscar Gutierrez, senior global director, sweetness innovation, Ingredion. "We are excited to expand our stevia portfolio to meet customers' sugar reduction needs."

Ingredion is SweeGen's distribution partner for both Reb M and Reb D, excluding the People's Republic of China and SweeGen's house accounts. This collaboration, said SweeGen, enables both companies to benefit from each other's strengths and to attract a diverse mix of food and beverage companies world-wide.