With FDA OK, PureCircle Ready to Market GRAS Stevia

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.—After years of study and reams of paper, hopes are high for the future of stevia in food and beverage applications, after FDA announced it has no objection to two stevia GRAS notifications. PureCircle, a supplier of high-purity Rebaudioside A (Reb A), lauded the agency’s decision regarding the filings by Whole Earth Sweeteners and Cargill; PureCircle supplies the companies with raw material for their branded stevia sweeteners.

Magomet Malsagov, CEO, Pure Circle, said, “The importance of GRAS status for high-purity Reb A cannot be overstated, this marks the opening of the largest market for Reb A. Food and drink manufacturers will now be able to use it as a sweetener ingredient—either as a complement to sugar or as a healthy substitute for synthetic sweeteners—across their entire product ranges.”

PureCircle currently produces 1,000MT of stevia extract annually; this is due to increase to 4,000MT by March 2009. In its refining plant in Malaysia, PureCircle produces 1,000MT/year of high-purity Reb A, which it expects to increase to 2,000MT/year in 2009.

For a more in-depth look at what’s next for Stevia-Derived Sweeteners, Robert S. McQuate, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO, GRAS Associates, LLC will be presenting an informative seminar on the topic April 28, 2009, at SupplySide East in Secaucus, N.J. Visit SupplySideShow.com/East for more details.