Cargill and dsm-firmenich EverSweet series set for European market expansion
Eversweet range from Cargill. Pic: Cargill
A Joint venture between Cargill and dsm-firmenich, Avansya,has confirmed that its EverSweet stevia-based sweetener has gained a positive response from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), writes Neill Barston.
Confectionery Production first discussed the potential for the new series with the company’s teams at Sweets & Snacks Expo last year in the US, and the company has continued to drive innovation within the segment.
As the business noted, the Eversweet line has been designed to bring together components of the stevia leaf – steviol glycosides Reb M and Reb D. It allows for significant reduction in sugars while maintaining a high-quality sweet taste for reduced and zero calorie food and beverages, enabling food manufacturers to meet the rising demand for healthful and sustainable products. EverSweet is created through advanced fermentation methods, resulting in reduced water usage, minimal land use impact, and a lower carbon footprint than producing it by growing acres of plants.
Avansya has quantified the sweetener’s environmental benefits through consecutive, third party-verified life cycle assessments. Results showed that the sweetener has impressive sustainability advantages over sugar, with 96% lower land-use-related impacts, 97% less water usage and 81% reduction in carbon footprint. Similar advantages were shown compared to bio-converted Reb M, with 88% reduction in land use related impacts, 92% lower water usage and a 76% lower carbon footprint [1].
Already available in the US, Canada, Mexico, and other major markets, EFSA and FSA are the latest in a growing list of regulatory bodies to review the sweetener’s safety. Final authorisation is expected in 2024, at which time EverSweet®will become commercially available to European food and beverage manufacturers too.
The series was first brough to market in America in 2019, it is already used to formulate a broad range of food and beverages in other markets worldwide. It is widely recognised for its clean, sugar-like taste, rounded flavor profile, and fast onset of sweetness, a combination of traits which enables formulators to achieve deeper reductions in sugars than traditional stevia sweeteners.
“We are thrilled that our European customers will soon gain access to this advanced, zero-calorie sweetener, and look forward to collaborating with them to bring consumers a new generation of products that reflect their priorities around health, nutrition, indulgence and sustainability,” said Andrew Ohmes, CEO Avansya. “Consumers don’t want to compromise on any of these points; with EverSweet, they don’t have to – it’s the sweetness solution that brings it all together.”
