Stevia-based launches are expected early January 2012 from the leading European players in the beverage, snacks and confectionery sectors, claims an Israeli consultancy, which, along with supplier Chengdu Wagott, has been assisting brand owners on stevia-based...
Stevia plant derived Rebiana is significantly more potent in cold water, finds a US based team who flag up their findings as critical for developers of low-calorie products to get the right sweetness level when replacing sugar with the natural sweetener.
A panel within India’s food safety regulator has recommended the approval of stevia as natural alternative to sugar for soft drink concentrates, chewing gums and other processed food products.
Belgian chocolate firm Cavalier has confirmed that it is planning to launch the UK's first chocolate range containing stevia from January next year, while other launches across the EU will also follow initial listings in Belgium from November.
Research conducted by stevia partners Cargill and Associated British Foods subsidiary Silver Spoon has found UK consumers are keen for natural alternatives to artificial low-calorie sweeteners.
The Commission has agreed to allow the continued use of stevia in France until the EU approves the sweetener, providing relief to companies worried that the extension would end before EU-wide authorisation is granted.
November 2011 should see steviol glycosides get regulatory backing for use in food in drink products in the European market, according to a European Commission (EC) representative.
Botanical extract manufacturer Chengdu Wagott is to open its second stevia facility in China, which it says will boost its Reb A capacity from 200 tons per year to 500 tons.
The International Stevia Council has launched a new, independent proficiency testing programme (PTP) for stevia products, which is intended as a benchmark to ensure analytical methods used to determine composition and purity yield accurate results.
Steviol glycosides produced by fermentation could be on the market in the coming years due to advances made by Swiss company Evolva and Californian R&D partner Abunda Nutrition, which it plans to acquire.
Nordzucker and Pure Circle have created their joint venture company to handle development, sales and marketing of stevia and steviasucrose ingredients in Europe, following their agreement to work together last year.
Q: What do the car industry and reduced calorie beverages have in common? A: Tribology, or the science of interactive surfaces in relative motion, according to Cargill, which is using it to determine the textural characteristics to be rebuilt in reduced...
In the interests of spurring sector innovation, EU biscuit, chocolate and cake manufacturer representative body Caobisco said it is aiming to get authorisations ‘in the future’ for the use of natural sweetener stevia in 'fine bakery' products,...
A new joint venture for stevia between a French sugar producer, a flavour firm, and an ingredients supplier will offer manufacturers ‘leaf to spoon’ service for the sweetener.
EUSTAS (European Stevia Association) president Professor Jan Guens says he is “very disappointed” by a decision taken by Cargill and Morita to remove a number of licensing application categories relating to use of steviol glycosides in food.
Silver Spoon has hailed its strategic partnership with Cargill to market and distribute zero calorie, stevia-based sweetener Truvia in the UK as a “great business opportunity”.
Sweetening carbonated beverages with stevia, and reb A in particular, does not produce any steviol aglycone, a potentially toxic compound, says a new study which supports the safety and stability of the sweetener.
The stevia industry’s best guess on approval in Europe is currently around July 2010, according to PureCircle VP sales and marketing Jordi Ferre, and in the meantime the food and beverage sector is watching closely the unfolding market in France.
It started with beverages, but with intense work being carried out by the food industry on other applications for stevia sweeteners novel products are coming to market in the US, and in other global markets with regulatory approval - from yoghurts, to...
Safety concerns over artificial sweeteners and the expiry of patents mean that sales volumes could soon be overtaken by polyols, says a leading market research firm.
The first tasks of the newly formed International Stevia Council (ISC) will be to settle on a common methodology for determining steviol glycoside purity, and to draw up a glossary of terms.
Suppliers and stakeholders in the stevia industry are organising to maintain standards and pursue scientific enquiry into the use of stevia sweeteners. But two trade organisations have been announced this week, with very different membership criteria...
Stevia-based ingredient producer Wisdom Natural Brands is opening a new plant processing facility in Chile that it says will increase its output fivefold.
Food ingredients giant Cargill says there is "extensive" European interest in its natural stevia-based sweetener Truvia Rebiana, ahead of anticipated approval from the EU Commission for use of steviol glycosides as food ingredients.
PureCircle has launched a joint venture with the sugar company Tereos to provide sugar/stevia blends to the European market and gain a stronger international presence through Tereos’ Brazilian facilities.
The New-Zealand-based firm driving the commercialisation of an intense natural sweetener from monk fruit (luo han guo) is seeking clearance to market it in the EU following successful trials with some of the world’s leading food and drink manufacturers.
British Sugar has joined forces with natural sweeteners firm PureCircle to develop new bulk sweeteners combining sugar and extracts from the stevia leaf.
People do not compensate with extra calories after consuming foods and drinks sweetened with zero-calorie sweeteners, suggests a new study published in the journal Appetite.
Beverages formulated with stevia are preferred by consumers over similar products sweetened with sugar or other common high intensity sweeteners, says new research from Croatia.
Stevia suppliers have welcomed EFSA’s positive scientific opinion on the safety of stevia-derived sweeteners, saying it paves the way for generating more consumer interest in the natural sweetener.
EU approval for natural sweeteners from the stevia leaf has moved one step closer after scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave them a clean bill of health.
Consuming low-calorie sweetened beverages may not lead to eating more as compensation for the lower calorie load, according to the results of a new human trial.
A Yerba Maté beverage is set to be one of the first products on French shelves sweetened with stevia-derived rebaudioside-A (Reb-A), recalling a traditional use of the plant by Guarani Indians in Paraguay.
The French government has approved the use of stevia sweetener Reb A in table top sweeteners, and raised the levels at which it can be used in a range of no added sugar food and beverage products.
Purac has become the latest company to release a natural flavor masker to help drinks makers deal with the reported bitter or licorice-like aftertaste sometimes experienced with stevia sweeteners.
By Sneha Pasricha, research analyst, Frost & Sullivan
A sustainable supply chain, adherence to quality standards and alliances with flavour companies are all keys to success in the increasingly competitive stevia sweeteners market, says Sneha Pasricha of Frost & Sullivan.
By Sneha Pasricha, research analyst, Frost & Sullivan
Aspartame and sugar are likely to be the main substitution targets for emerging stevia sweeteners, and beverages the initial main application, writes Sneha Pasricha, a research analyst for Frost & Sullivan, in the first of two guest articles.
Ahead of the Stevia World Europe conference in Frankfurt in November, business research firm KnowGenix has compiled a report detailing the quality, sustainability and taste issues that stevia still faces.
PureCircle has reported a huge boom in sales in the “transformational” 2009 financial year, and has credit facilities that will allow it to expand as stevia sweeteners move towards the big time.
Granular is officially launching its Real Stevia sweetener following approval for high Reb-A stevia sweeteners in France; the race is on to bring the first products to shelves and secure market share.
The French government has approved the use of stevia sweeteners with 97 per cent purity rebaudioside A (Reb A), officially opening up the first EU market for products containing the much-anticipated ingredient.
Niutang is preparing to introduce its Reb A sweetener from stevia next year and is starting discussions with existing customers and new ones that have a parallel product development timeline.
Sweet Green Fields (SGF) has announced the opening of a new facility in China with annual production of 1,000 MT of finished product, doubling its current capacity.
Increasing demand for stevia and reb A may soon attract the adulterers to crash the party. Mel Jackson, VP science for Sweet Green Fields (SGF) told FoodNavigator that, as his company announces a doubling of their production capacity, the industry must...
