PureCircle quadruples stevia extract production in Jiangxi

29-Apr-2009 - Major Reb A supplier PureCircle has quadrupled production capacity of stevia extracts at its Jiangxi plant in China as interest in stevia-derived sweeteners continues to grow.

Cargill develops flavor solutions for stevia

28-Apr-2009 - There are now even more options for food manufacturers seeking to reformulate with stevia-derived sweeteners, as Cargill becomes the latest to launch a flavor range to deal with their potentially problematic aftertaste.

Reb A could face organic market challenges

24-Apr-2009 - The potential of stevia-derived sweeteners for use in organic foods could be limited because of the plant’s diversified cultivation and Reb A’s processed nature, according to Euromonitor International.

FDA GRAS for sucromalt will widen market appeal, says Cargill

23-Apr-2009 - Cargill has claimed that the market for its sucromalt sweetener will widen after acheiving FDA generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status last week, and as consumers increasingly demand healthier foods.

Is stevia’s market potential limited by cost?

22-Apr-2009 - Stevia’s expense compared to other sweeteners is a major market limitation, according to a new paper on the stevia market, although industry players say they are working to bring its price down.

Obama administration upholds GM sugarbeet deregulation

01-Apr-2009 - The USDA has chosen not to change laws on genetically engineered sugarbeets in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice requesting a review of deregulation for the beets last month.

European stevia firm to build Paraguay plant

24-Mar-2009 - Granular, a European stevia producer, has entered into a joint partnership to build a refinery for the natural sweetener in South America which it said will be environmentally neutral.

Comax releases stevia-masking ‘problem solver’

17-Mar-2009 - Comax Flavors has released a natural masking flavor to mask the bitter aftertaste associated with stevia-derived sweetener Reb A.

Weekly comment

Could sugar shake off its bad boy image?

16-Mar-2009 - Sugar could be shedding its bad boy image to take a surprise spot on the public’s list of trusted ingredients, as manufacturers look to appeal to more savvy consumers.

Dr Pepper Snapple announces first major Reb A-sweetened sports drink

12-Mar-2009 - Reb A is moving into the sports drink market as Dr Pepper Snapple becomes the first of the big three soft drinks manufacturers to release a zero-calorie sports drink sweetened with Reb A, the natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.

Snapple prioritizes taste in HFCS-free tea

11-Mar-2009 - Dr Pepper Snapple has released an all-natural version of its iced tea which uses high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of sugar, but has denied that it was driven by trends for natural ingredients or any consumer choice to avoid HFCS.

PureCircle partners with Cerilliant for Reb A quality testing

03-Mar-2009 - PureCircle has announced it has entered into a partnership with Cerilliant to develop and supply certified reference materials for its stevia-derived sweeteners, responding to demand for high quality Reb A.

Partnership to speed stevia-sweetened product development

13-Feb-2009 - A new partnership between a stevia supplier and a flavors and ingredients firm will speed the process of bringing low-calorie stevia-sweetened products to market, the companies claim.

Stevia’s bitter taste receptors discovered, claims Givaudan

12-Feb-2009 - Givaudan has claimed it has discovered the bitter taste receptors triggered by Reb-A, the natural, high intensity sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.

Obama and financial crisis drive new consumer values, says report

03-Feb-2009 - Food manufacturers need to better understand consumer tactics for dealing with the economic crisis and employ palatable strategies to answer to a fresh set of values, according to a report from Packaged Facts.

News in brief

NBJ awards researchers for stevia quality standard-setting

28-Jan-2009 - The Nutrition Business Journal has awarded a Scientific Achievement Award to the research organization ChromaDex for its role in developing quality standards for the individual sweet components of stevia.

GLG extends high purity sweetener production line

16-Jan-2009 - GLG Life Tech has upgraded its stevia processing line at its plant in China to boost its output of rebiana that is of a higher purity, which associated with a better taste profile.

News in brief

PureCircle appoints Tate & Lyle man for Reb A sales drive

16-Jan-2009 - PureCircle has appointed Jordi Ferre to its senior management team in the US to spearhead the commercial development of the all-natural, zero calorie stevia-derived sweetener, Rebaudioside A (Reb A).

Merisant files for bankruptcy

12-Jan-2009 - The tabletop sweetener company Merisant Worldwide has filed for bankruptcy in a move which it says will free up more cash to invest in its new stevia-derived sweetener PureVia.

News in brief

More stevia-sweetened products launched in US

08-Jan-2009 - The beverage company Reed's, Inc. has announced the introduction of stevia-sweetened versions of it Virgil's brand of premium sodas.

GLG could look beyond China to help serve stevia market

08-Jan-2009 - GLG Life Tech Corporation may open up stevia plants in other countries following the announcement that it has begun operations at two new processing facilities for the sweetener in China.

GLG nearly doubles stevia capacity with new plants

07-Jan-2009 - GLG Life Tech Corporation said it had underestimated the capacity of its two new stevia processing plants in China as projections have now nearly doubled.

Quality standards proposed for stevia-derived sweetener

06-Jan-2009 - Food and beverage manufacturers are being invited to help set quality standards for the sweetener Reb A through the Food Chemicals Codex Forum.

New Reb A collaboration to enhance flavor

06-Jan-2009 - Reb A supplier PureCircle has joined with Firmenich in an exclusive global collaboration which aims to provide a formula for applications using the stevia-derived sweetener, not just the ingredient.