Sweet Green Fields Granted Product Patent for Highest Purity Stevia Extract

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweet Green Fields (SGF), the leading U.S. science based, natural sweetener innovator, today announced it was granted a product patent (regardless of manufacturing process) by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) for Rebaudioside A (Reb A) products greater than 98.6 percent purity.

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"Sweet Green Fields achieved another industry first, as no other patents cover Reb A purity higher than 98.7 percent. The company's Altesse Stevia™ 99 and its newest edition, Puresse Stevia™ 100, as well as pending new steviol glycosides are covered by this patent," said Mike Quin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Sweet Green Fields.

Puresse Stevia™ 100 is the ultimate in steviol glycoside purity. Under the management of Dr. Mel Jackson, SGF's vice president of science, the SGF team studied numerous methodologies to remove impurities and deliver an exceptional sweet taste.

With the use of SGF's unique Modified Quantitative Descriptive Analysis/Liking Test, sensory research was conducted on Puresse Stevia™ 100 in full diet and reduced sugar carbonated soft drink applications. Included in the formulation study were colas formulated with HFCS, Aspartame, and various steviol glycoside blends including Reb A and Reb D, with and without taste modulators. The research concluded that Puresse Stevia™ 100 with modifiers was the clear winner in full diet applications in all key attributes including sweetness, bitterness, and lingering.

"Sweet Green Fields has truly set a new standard for ultra-high purity stevia extract," commented Alex Woo, SGF's vice president of application and innovation. "When it comes to challenging diet beverage formulation, regardless of blends and taste modulators, starting with the purest product is always better. SGF's passion for innovation has led to uncompromised product purity delivering a consistent sweet taste, clean finish and no product variability."

The Zevia brand, which accounts for 78-percent of the naturally sweetened low/zero calorie U.S. soda market, recently reformulated to sweeten with SGF's Altesse Stevia™ 99.

"Sweet Green Fields, like Zevia, has been on a parallel path to continuously improve product taste," said Paddy Spence, Zevia CEO. "SGF works closely with our product team, providing added formulation and sensory expertise. Zevia conducted extensive consumer testing and the new formulation was overwhelmingly preferred by soda drinkers."  

In addition, SGF holds the only product patent for high purity Reb-A extract globally. Puresse Stevia™ 100 is currently covered by patents in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, with patents pending in five additional countries worldwide, including the U.S. and Europe. The Canadian patents provide Sweet Green Fields with the ability to exclusively market and sell its Puresse Stevia™ 100 and Altesse Stevia™ 99 branded sweeteners and along with other high-purity steviol glycoside products in development.

For more information visit www.sweetgreenfields.com

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

About Rebaudioside-A (Reb-A)
Derived from the stevia plant, high purity Reb-A stevia extract is the first all-natural, zero calorie high intensity sweetener that delivers on key food and beverage formulation metrics: heat stable, pH stable, low Glycemic index, zero calories, shelf stable, non GMO, Kosher and Halal and cost competitive on a sweetening unit basis.

Media Contacts:
Mike Quin
Sweet Green Fields, SVP Sales & Marketing
360-483-4555 | [email protected]

Jessika Fernandez
Duo PR for Sweet Green Fields
206-456-3431 | [email protected]

SOURCE Sweet Green Fields