USA – Cargill has started production of a new sweetener called EverSweet, derived from tasting sweet compounds found in the stevia leaf, Reb M and Reb D as it turns its focus on healthier offerings.

The sweetener is a delicious new alternative to be used in food and beverages that seeks to achieve reduced or zero-calorie levels.

Stevia is a sweetener and sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana.

The alternative finds applications including preparation of many energy-reduced foods, beverages, dairy products or nutritional bars and those free of added sugar, in a way to address the growing demand for healthier products by consumers.

“Cargill has set a new benchmark for sweetness without calories with our EverSweet sweetener,” said Andrew Ohmes, global stevia business leader for Cargill.

“Our goal has always been to address our customers’ needs to make lower calorie products that taste great and are affordable to all.”

EverSweet is produced through a fermentation process which extracts large quantities of Reb M and Reb D from the stevia plant in a sustainable way.

Cargill’s use of this fermentation process offers the flexibility to expand rapidly and cost-effectively as the demand for the EverSweet sweetener grows.

By using a genetically engineered baker’s yeast to convert sugars into more desirable glycosides via a fermentation process, Cargill and Evolva can produce them on a commercial scale.

Also, Cargill and Evolva reached a new agreement for the EverSweet sweetener, which replaces the existing agreements, and adds certain additional high-intensity sweeteners.

“We are delighted that Cargill has started commercial production of EverSweet. We look forward to the next chapter in the exciting space of sweeteners,” said Simon Waddington, Evolva CEO.