BioVittoria develops Luo Han Guo sweetener for NZ
2 August 2010 – BioVittoria has developed a version of Luo Han Guo-derived natural alternative to sugar containing no calories, carbohydrates or sugar, so is therefore safe for consumption by diabetics.
New Zealand product development company BioVittoria focuses on commercialising plant-derived functional ingredients for the food and beverage and dietary supplement industries. BioVittoria produces Fruit-Sweetness, a monk fruit (better known as Luo Han Guo) concentrate, which is a natural alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners. Fruit-Sweetness currently is produced as a zero-calorie, powdered concentrate extracted from the monk fruit and is approximately 200+ times sweeter than cane sugar. BioVittoria also expects to be producing a fruit juice product within the year, which will be submitted for Novel Food approval in the EU.
Monk fruit (Luo Han Guo) is grown exclusively in Southern China and is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family along with cucumber and melon. In January 2010, BioVittoria received official notification from the US Food and Drug Administration that Fruit-Sweetness is GRAS.
Containing no calories, no carbohydrates and no sugar, Fruit-Sweetness is safe for consumption by diabetics and can be used in flavours, foods, beverages, gums, baked goods, dietary supplements, powdered drinks, nutritional bars and chocolates.
