The deal follows the long awaited EU approval for the use of steviol glycosides as a non-calorific sweetener in the European market. The regulation was formally adopted on 11 November and will go into effect as of 2 December, 2011.
A supplier and US based stevia producer, SGF has a complete vertically integrated supply chain with dedicated stevia crops in North America.
Sam Newberg, VP, business development Europe & North America at Sweet Green Fields, said: “We use a natural process to extract the best tasting part of the stevia plant to yield nearly pure Rebaudioside-A. Stevia extracts have all the sweetness of sugar. In fact stevia is 250 – 350 times as sweet, with none of the calories. Using our unique pure extraction technology, we’re able to bring out all the natural sweetness of the plant, rendering a 99% + pure Reb A, plus other high purity blends to meet market demand.”
SGF and IMCD will focus on customer partnership, application know-how and market experience. IMCD’s synergetic product portfolio and network of food ingredient producers makes it a perfect partner to successfully bring stevia to European food companies.
Steviol glycosides or purified stevia extracts are derived from the stevia plant – a small shrub native to South America. Stevia is related to herbs and vegetables such as chamomile, tarragon, endive and lettuce. Stevia extracts can be used anywhere sugar is used: among other applications in confectionary, dairy, breakfast cereals.
Source: Sweet Green Fields
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