Avansya begins stevia sweetener production in US

The Avansya joint venture (JV) comprising global food companies Cargill and Royal DSM has started production of stevia sweeteners at its first commercial-scale fermentation facility in the US.

Located in Blair, Nebraska, the new 10,000ft² fermentation facility will produce zero-calorie sweetener that will be retailed as EverSweet. It features six miles of new piping and 2,000 new instruments, as well as fermenters and evaporators.

Cargill managing director and Avansya board chairman Mike Wagner said: “Building this first-of-its-kind stevia sweetener fermentation facility on the existing Cargill Blair campus reaffirms our pledge to helping food and beverage manufacturers meet the sharply rising consumer demand for great-tasting, zero-calorie products to meet their dietary needs and goals.

“It also reaffirms our commitment to strengthening the business community and Nebraska as a biotechnology mecca.”

Operated by Cargill, the $50m fermentation facility will produce sweet-tasting molecules, including Reb M and Reb D that will be used to develop EverSweet.

EverSweet offers a clean taste profile and can be used in the preparation of ice cream, cereal, bars, yoghurt, confections, chocolate milk and soft drinks.

DSM Food Specialties president and Avansya board member Patrick Niels said: “The need for effective solutions for advanced sugar reduction on a global scale has never been clearer or more urgent.

“With today’s opening, we are showing that, as an industry, we can do more, and faster, to innovate and provide consumers around the world with reduced- and zero-calorie food and beverage products, with no compromise on taste, and so help support good health and wellbeing in our societies.”

The company also said that its EverSweet is GRAS and FEMA GRAS approved and can be used in food and beverage applications across the US and Mexico.