A global leader in specialty ingredients and plant-based sugar reduction innovation announced that food safety authorities in the United Kingdom have granted expedited approval for PureCircle™ by Ingredion’s steviol glycosides produced through bioconversion. This approval significantly enhances the availability of the best-tasting molecules from the stevia leaf for food and beverage products.
“This approval sets a precedent for other markets to follow,” stated Nate Yates, Global Sugar Reduction Platform Leader at Ingredion and CEO of PureCircle. “Our global customers are seeking sugar reduction solutions that meet consumer demands and are scalable at the enterprise level to maximize operational efficiencies. Advancements like this enable us to better serve our customers and their consumers.”
PureCircle’s bioconversion method replicates the plant’s natural production process, offering superior cost efficiency with minimal processing. By converting Reb A leaf extract into Reb M or other key molecules, food and beverage brands can sustainably scale stevia sweeteners ideal for complete sugar reduction.
Ingredion has published a pioneering, peer-reviewed life cycle assessment of sweeteners, highlighting the importance of new technologies like bioconversion in sustainably scaling sweeteners. Bioconversion technologies help reduce the environmental impact of stevia ingredients compared to full-caloric sweeteners like sugar cane and beet sugar on a sweetness equivalence basis.
Food and beverage companies are encouraged to take advantage of PureCircle’s expanded portfolio of Clean Taste Solutions, now accessible with steviol glycosides from bioconversion. These sweetening solutions are 100 percent stevia, tailored to achieve optimized taste performance based on a brand’s product category and sugar reduction target. PureCircle Clean Taste Solubility Solution is the latest innovation, offering improved taste performance and 100 times more solubility than traditional Reb M stevia.
Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE: INGR), headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in nearly 120 countries. With 2023 annual net sales of approximately $8 billion, the Company turns grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for the food, beverage, animal nutrition, brewing and industrial markets. With Ingredion Idea Labs® innovation centers located around the world and more than 12,000 employees, the Company co-creates with customers and fulfills its purpose of bringing the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better.
