Stevia Producer Sweet Green Fields Launches Natural Sweetener Solutions Optimized For Diet and Reduced Calorie Beverages

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Green Fields, a leading U.S. based global producer of stevia extracts, today announced it has expanded its product portfolio to include two high purity glycoside compositions, Optesse HPX and Optesse HPS. Extensive research shows these new all-natural compositions deliver an excellent taste profile and better value for particular food and beverage needs, including diet and reduced calorie packaged products.

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After studying the interaction of steviol glycosides with reduced sugar and diet beverage sweetening systems, the Sweet Green Fields team focused on sucrose levels to create the best tasting ratios with steviol glycosides. Based on the findings, the company spent considerable resources in developing proprietary compositions that optimize the sensory results of the steviol glycoside and sugar interactions at either relatively low or high absolute sugar content replacement. The two new proprietary compositions, Optesse HPS and HPX, can be used with varying levels of sugar by food and beverage manufacturers with virtually no sensory consequences and for a fraction of the cost.

"The rewards for the extensive research and development leading to Optesse HPX and HPS will become evident to the consumer when they taste the results," said Mel Jackson, Vice President of Science at Sweet Green Fields. "We have been able to methodically design two solutions that will radically change the cost and taste dynamic of sweetening foods and beverages, and we are already working with several multinational companies to test new formulations."

Optesse HPS, composed of purified Rebaudioside-A (RA), is a high purity sweetener with superior taste and cost advantages to create the "right calorie" product for blending with sugar and fructose. Ideal for 33 to 50 percent reduced sugar blended formulations from soft drinks to baked goods; the benefit is a clear, sweet taste with lower calories. Similarly, Optesse HPX is a highly pure yet optimized sweetener ideal for formulations with more complex flavor systems, or when developing a zero or very low calorie product.

"Expanding our portfolio of science-based, all-natural stevia solutions, Sweet Green Fields is meeting our food and beverage customers' complex formulation needs for high purity glycoside compositions," said Dean Francis, Chief Executive Officer of Sweet Green Fields. "With the launch of these new products, Sweet Green Fields focused on delivering superior quality, value and efficacy for our customers, drawing from our extensive product line and formulations research."

Like all current Sweet Green Fields stevia offerings, both the Optesse products are also produced using the company's patented and all-natural Fast Precipitation Process that extracts high quality stevia glycosides in a fraction of the time compared to standard industry methods.

In addition to the two new products, Sweet Green Fields also markets Altesse Stevia™ 99, Sweetesse Stevia™ 97 and 95, and Greenesse Stevia^™ 80, 60 and 50 each boasting a low glycemic index, heat and pH stable, Kosher and Halal certified and JECFA approved.

Sweet Green Fields is known for its industry-leading and patented practices. The company operates as a global, vertically integrated supplier, guaranteeing quality and control in every step of the process, from seed to final sweetener. With this latest product launch, Sweet Green Fields continues to demonstrate that it is an industry leader in developing cost effective stevia based sweetening solutions that will power the innovative progress of the general food industry.

For additional information, visit www.sweetgreenfields.com.

About Sweet Green Fields

Sweet Green Fields (SGF) is the leading U.S. producer of sweeteners derived from stevia, including high-purity stevia extracts and Rebaudioside-A. With a vertically integrated supply chain from seed to final sweetener operating in three continents, Sweet Green Fields markets natural sweeteners globally to food and beverage companies. Sweet Green Fields also provides formulation assistance with its line of sweeteners. The company has formulated reduced sugar applications in beverages, dairy, baking, and confectionary. www.sweetgreenfields.com

About Stevia and Stevia Extracts

Stevia is a plant of the Asteraceae (sunflower) family whose leaves have been used as a sweetener in South America for hundreds of years. Stevia extracts are the first all-natural, zero calorie high intensity sweetener that deliver on key food and beverage formulation metrics: zero calories, low Glycemic index, heat stable, pH stable, shelf stable, non GMO, Kosher and Halal and cost competitive on a sucrose equivalency sweetening unit.

SOURCE Sweet Green Fields