European approval for stevia opens doors for PURAC® FIT Plus
24 November 2011. Back
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Purac welcomes the recent European Commission's decision to
allow the use of steviol glycosides (stevia) as sweetener in food
and beverage applications. The global provider of preservation
solutions, lactic acid and lactates expects a further increase of
interest in PURAC FIT Plus as a result of this recent ruling.
Today's consumers are increasingly interested in products that
contain few calories, while at the same time they prefer natural
ingredients and are not willing to compromise on taste. The recent
approval of stevia, a high intensity natural sweetener, will enable
the industry to meet these market demands. However, challenges
exist when applying stevia to food and beverages.
Alongside its sweetness, stevia's taste profile includes a
lingering bitter or licorice-like aftertaste. PURAC FIT Plus
successfully helps to mask the lingering off flavors of intensity
sweeteners, such as stevia.
"PURAC FIT Plus is an all natural, ultra pure grade of
lactic acid. It is optimized for application in the beverage
industry and even has specifications on flavor and odor
components" says Hans Schinck, Category Manager at Purac.
"The long lasting time and the balanced sour taste make PURAC
FIT Plus the perfect building block for stevia masking and
acidification of beverages."
Purac has been supplying the beverage industry for decades,
offering solutions for preservation, mineral fortification and for
acidification. The global presence, strong application support and
level of expertise make Purac a true partner for beverage companies
all over the world.