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Stevia in Europe

Ever since EFSA's positive safety opinion in April, the European Commission's approval of stevia sweeteners - tipped for summer 2011 - has been eagerly awaited. While suppliers and manufacturers are readying the market, France is enjoying a two-year window of early approval for high purity Reb-A. Quelle chance!

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Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant

06-Feb-2012 - Mint confectionery products containing the sweetener stevia could appeal to EU consumers, but each country has its own preference, according to a consultant to Cargill

Vitiva launches stevia ingredient line

13-Dec-2011 - Vitiva has announced the global launch of its high intensity stevia line, following the recent approval for the use of stevia across Europe.

Special Edition: Stevia

Stevia supply chain is built on sustainable values, say suppliers

23-Nov-2011 - Greater ownership and management of the stevia supply chain has helped to build a system that is sustainable, responsible, and scalable, say leading global suppliers PureCircle and Cargill.

Special Edition: Stevia

Getting a handle on flavour, bulking and bitter blocker systems key to stevia formulation

22-Nov-2011 - In-depth understanding of how stevia works with different flavour systems, bulking agents, and other ingredients is required to optimise NPD or reformulation of existing food and drinks using the natural sweetener.

Special Edition: Stevia

Coca-Cola to expand stevia offering in EU; no plans to drop aspartame

21-Nov-2011 - Coca-Cola said it has no reason to drop the artificial sweetener aspartame from its low or zero calorie beverage brands in the European market as it welcomes last week’s approval by the European Commission for the use of the natural sweetener stevia in drinks and foodstuffs.

Exclusive interview

Chinese market opens up for Naturex for flavour modifier; Burgundy integration underway

21-Nov-2011 - Naturex has just received novel foods approval in China for its flavour masking system, Talin. President and chief executive of the botanicals group, Jacques Dikansky, revealed the news and discussed the integration of Burgundy when we caught up with him at Naturex HQ in Avignon.

Special Edition: Stevia

Is a re-assessment of EU stevia usage on the cards?

17-Nov-2011 - Post-market monitoring of stevia use levels in food and drink products could see the European Commission broaden the current authorised food categories, claims a stevia trade body.

Exclusive interview

Stevia approval will accelerate existing trend towards low calorie drinks, Wild

15-Nov-2011 - Just before the adoption of a regulation by European Commission (EC) on November 11 to approve the sale and use of steviol glycosides, Wild's senior vice president of business development, Fabiana Matucci, told BeverageDaily.com how she thought stevia approval would affect the rate of innovation within low-calorie beverages.

European manufacturers should look to France and the USA for stevia lessons

07-Nov-2011 - When it comes to developing and launching stevia products, European manufacturers can learn a lot from the successes achieved by their US and global counterparts, according the one industry expert.

Belgian firm gears-up for first ever UK stevia chocolate launch

09-Sep-2011 - 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.

Cargill research: UK consumers dissatisfied with sweetener options

11-Aug-2011 - 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.

GLG granted Stevia patent in China

20-Jul-2011 - A fully owned subsidiary of GLG Life Tech Corp has been granted a patent in China for its stevia extraction process.

EU member states back stevia; could be products on-shelves by “early 2012”

05-Jul-2011 - The long journey to European Union acceptance for the natural, intense sweetener, steviol glycoside, shortened significantly yesterday when the EU’s 27 member states backed its safety at a European Commission (EC) committee meeting.

French to receive extension for stevia use ahead of EU approval

28-Jun-2011 - 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.

Commission flags up November for EU-wide approval of stevia

27-Jun-2011 - 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.

Treatt enters market for stevia flavour improvement

16-Jun-2011 - Treatt has launched a blend of natural essences to improve the flavour and mouthfeel of stevia.

Chengdu Wagott to more than double stevia capacity

08-Jun-2011 - 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.

World Stevia Organisation to welcome all natural sweeteners

25-May-2011 - Non-profit World Stevia Organisation is broadening its scope to include all natural sweeteners, such as monk fruit, thaumatin, and others whose potential is still being explored, as sweeteners are frequently blended in food and beverages for optimal taste profile and performance.

Cheaper steviol glycosides by fermentation on the horizon

05-Apr-2011 - 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 announce joint venture for steviasucrose: NP Sweet

22-Mar-2011 - 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.

Cargill unveils holistic sweetness-flavour-texture approach to reduced calorie beverages

16-Mar-2011 - 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 calorie beverages – along with sweetness and flavour modification – as part of its new tripartite approach called TasteWise.

Caobisco to seek approval for stevia in fine bakery 'in the future'

08-Mar-2011 - 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, but has yet to make an application in that regard.

French firms team up for integrated stevia supply

02-Mar-2011 - 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 president blames large firms for loss of stevia categories

07-Feb-2011 - 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.

EFSA lowers exposure levels for steviol glycosides

01-Feb-2011 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published revised exposure estimates for the use of steviol glycosides in food and beverages.

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