Approval opens the door for more food and beverage sugar reduction solutions
Sweegen has expanded its Signature stevia footprint in Latin America after Colombia approved its stevia sweeteners made by bioconversion, a method for producing clean and non-GMO ingredients. Sweegen’s rebaudiosides E and I will now join the already approved D and M.
Triggered by rising levels of obesity, Colombia has undergone a nutrition transition. The country has prioritized the health and well-being of children and families by adopting policies to address the obesity epidemic.
Colombia’s Ministry of Health has prioritized sugar reduction by exploring sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes to mandatory front-of-pack warning labels through legislative and public media pushes. The country joins the growing list of Latin American countries prioritizing health, including Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, and Mexico.
New generation rebaudiosides made by bioconversion produce clean sweetener molecules like rebaudiosides B, D, E, I, M, and N, originally found in small quantities in the stevia leaf. They impart a clean sugar-like taste with a better sensory profile and are highly sought-after by food and beverage manufacturers in countries with regulatory approvals.