Avansya, the joint venture between Cargill and dsm-firmenich, announced that EverSweet stevia sweetener received a positive safety opinion from both the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), bringing the sweetener one step closer to commercial availability in the EU and the UK.
 
EverSweet stevia sweetener contains the steviol glycosides Reb M and Reb D, which, according to Avansya, are the sweetest and cleanest tasting components. It allows for significant reduction in sugars while maintaining a high-quality sweet taste for reduced and zero calorie food and beverages, enabling food manufacturers to meet the rising demand for these products.
 
EverSweet is produced through advanced fermentation methods, resulting in reduced water usage, minimal land use impact, and a lower carbon footprint than producing it by growing acres of plants.
 
Avansya conducted consecutive third-party life cycle assessments on the sweetener’s sustainability benefits, with consistent results showing that the sweetener has 96% lower land use, 97% less water use, and an 81% smaller carbon footprint than sugar production.
 
Similarly, compared to bio-converted Reb M, EverSweet production entails 88% lower land use, 92% lower water use, and a 76% smaller carbon footprint.
 
EverSweet is already available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and other major markets. With the present approvals in Europe, Avansya anticipates that EFSA and FSA will give the sweetener final authorization in 2024, at which time it will be available to food and beverage manufacturers there.
 
“We are thrilled that our European customers will soon gain access to this advanced, zero-calorie sweetener, and look forward to collaborating with them to bring consumers a new generation of products that reflect their priorities around health, nutrition, indulgence, and sustainability,” said Andrew Ohmes, CEO of Avansya. “Consumers don’t want to compromise on any of these points. With Eversweet, they don’t have to. It’s the sweetness solution that brings it all together.”