Stevia strain Reb M approved for Australia and New Zealand

Sweegen, a provider of non-GMO, nature-based stevia sweeteners, revealed that the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has assessed and approved the company’s Bestevia Reb M stevia leaf sweetener for use as a food additive in Amendment No 183 issued this month. 

Stevia leaves are used as food sweetener

Bestevia Reb M is a non-caloric, high-purity stevia sweetener with a clean, sugar-like taste that can replace up to 100% of sugar or artificial sweeteners in beverages, dairy products, bakeries and nutritional foods, amongst many other applications. Sweegen also offers stevia-leaf Reb D and its newest stevia sweetener, Bestevia e+ in other countries, which are all “great choices for sugar reduction, with a clean sweet taste, closest to sugar,” it said.

FSANZ amended the current specification for next generation sweetener Rebaudioside M under the Australia and New Zealand food standard code to include Sweegen's Bestivia Reb M, after performing a detailed safety evaluation. Reb M is produced through a unique, stevia leaf - based bioconversion process.

"We are excited to now offer our non-GMO Project Verified, great-tasting stevia sweetener in Australia and New Zealand. Reb M is the first of our stevia sweeteners to be approved, with further approvals in the pipeline” said Katharina Pueller, director, natural sweetener business of Sweegen.

“Our in-house applications team can also help food and beverage companies find the perfect sweetener solution to make their consumer products more competitive while meeting consumer taste preference.”

Sweegen added that it is looking forward to working with local flavour houses to support sugar reduction projects locally. The world-wide trend towards clean labels supports the use of nature-based, non-GMO, sustainable ingredients, like the company’s Reb M, Sweegen concluded.