SweeGen Inc., a provider of nature-based sweeteners, and Ingredion Incorporated have announced a new addition to its line of stevia leaf sweeteners with the successful commercialization of BESTEVIA Reb D as another option for sugar reduction in foods and beverages.

BESTEVIA Reb D provides additional flexibility for formulators looking to match the time intensity response curve of sucrose. Rebaudioside D (Reb D) and Rebaudioside M (Reb M) are steviol glycosides found in the stevia leaf that can be used as sweeteners in food and beverage applications. Unique patented processes that start with the stevia leaf enabled SweeGen to introduce BESTEVIA Reb M and now BESTEVIA Reb D to the beverage and food industries as alternatives to sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Speaking , Steven Chen, SweeGen CEO said: “Reb D is one of many molecules found in the stevia leaf. While these molecules or compounds all offer outstanding sweet tastes and zero calories, every single one has a different taste profile. These compounds offer different benefits in different applications. BESTEVIA Reb D is the newest product in SweeGen’s portfolio, following BESTEVIA Reb M, which has been on the market for a couple of months."

“This partnership between ourselves and Ingredion aligns the strengths of two great companies by combining innovative R&D, technical know-how and an established worldwide customer network,” he explains.

“Our two companies benefit and learn from each other and together can provide customers around the globe with new ways to reduce sugar without sacrificing taste,” adds Chen.

In February 2017, SweeGen successfully commercialized BESTEVIA Reb M, the company's first FDA GRAS approved stevia leaf sweetener. BESTEVIA Reb M has been well received by major food and beverage companies in the US, Europe and Asia. The BESTEVIA Reb D GRAS self-affirmation was completed in June this year and was immediately submitted to the FDA for review.

Chen also said: “Our growing sweetener platform offers our industry partners an expanding choice to replace caloric and artificial sweeteners in consumer products. SweeGen's sweetener portfolio offers great-tasting, non-caloric and nature-based alternatives for the global consumer.”

He added: “The introduction of BESTEVIA Reb D represents yet another strong achievement for SweeGen in the natural sweetener market.”

“We can now offer an additional option for sugar reduction without compromising taste,” says Oscar Gutierrez, senior global director, sweetness innovation, Ingredion.

“We are excited to expand our stevia portfolio to meet customers' sugar reduction needs.”

Kurt Callaghan, Marketing Manager, Global Sweetness Innovation, Ingredion Incorporated, Westchester, “Ingredion's strong go-to-market knowledge, global footprint, formulation and R&D expertise, sensory capabilities and broad customer base, combined with SweeGen's R&D and manufacturing capabilities, help enable our partnership to deliver clean tasting stevia sweeteners to customers all over the world.”

“We are continuously innovating to help food and beverage manufacturers meet consumer demand for reduced sugar products that deliver on taste expectations,” notes Callaghan. “Ingredion has a robust pipeline of innovation for sweeteners oriented to address sugar reduction needs.”

Ingredion is SweeGen's distribution partner for both Reb M and Reb D, excluding the People's Republic of China and SweeGen's House Accounts. This collaboration enables both companies to benefit from each other's strengths and to attract a diverse mix of food and beverage companies worldwide.