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FDA issues GRAS no objections letter for SweeGen Bestevia Reb E sweetener

By Mary Ellen Shoup

- Last updated on GMT

 ©GettyImages / MagMos
©GettyImages / MagMos

Related tags Stevia sweeteners Stevia Fda

Stevia-based sweetener company, SweeGen, has received a GRAS no objections letter from the FDA for its non-GMO Bestevia Rebaudioside E ('Reb E') stevia leaf sweetener for use in food and beverage products.

The California-company previously received GRAS no objections letters from the FDA for the use of its Bestevia Reb D​ ​and Reb M ​stevia sweeteners. 

Branded as Bestevia e+, the company's newest stevia sweetener is produced using a plant-based bioconversion process and contains Reb E 95%, Reb M (below 50ppm), and other stevia compounds, according to the company.

"Bestevia e+ provides a mouthfeel and taste closest to sugar,"​ said Shari Joslin, VP of application technology at SweeGen, who said the sweetener can provide a 100% sugar reduction solution at a price equivalent to cane sugar for formulators and manufacturers.

The company debuted the ingredient in November 2018 at SupplySide West in Las Vegas as a sugar reduction solution created specifically for beverage applications in response to IP concerns over the use of Reb M and Reb D, which had been patented by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, respectively. 

"The beverage industry shows great respect to this existing IP and in response has been looking for new stevia molecules beyond Reb M and Reb D that can be used specifically in beverages,"​ SweeGen stated at the time of the launch. 

The Reb E sweetener has also shown success in other product applications, according to Katharina Pueller, director of SweeGen's natural sweetener business. 

"Bestevia e+ shows great success in reducing sugar and artificial sweeteners in many applications, such as beverage, dairy, sports nutrition, condiments and bakeries,"​ Pueller said. 

Reb E was commercialized at the end of 2018 and is available in large quantities. Having now received the no objection letter from the FDA, SweeGen will continue to pursue global approvals.

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