As the largest-scale operator for stevia ingredients sourced from bioconversion, Ingredion has announced that it has invested in the expansion of its daughter company PureCircle's stevia production facility in Malaysia.

With this expansion, PureCircle will be able to produce four times as much bioconversion-derived stevia ingredient, which is intended to take the place of sugar and artificial sweeteners in a variety of food and beverage categories.

According to Nate Yates, Ingredion's global platform leader for sugar reduction, food and beverage companies are giving the elimination of artificial sweeteners and sugar top priority when reformulating their products. He went on to say that previously, brands hadn't had easy access to the best-tasting stevia leaf products in large quantities. For businesses of all sizes, this substantial investment in production capacity to create stevia components like Reb M and other better-tasting steviol glycosides opens up deeper reduction opportunities and optimal taste performance.

The PureCircle Clean Taste Solutions, which offer clean-tasting sweetness in a variety of categories such as drinks, dairy, tea, coffee, sports nutrition, bakery, confectionary, savory, sauces, and dressings, were introduced by Ingredion earlier this year. The availability of these final ingredients for use in brand formulation will rise with the expansion of the Malaysian facility.

Ingredion's portfolio of functional ingredients, flavorings, and modifying properties can be combined with PureCircle's assortment of non-GMO stevia-derived sweeteners to create new opportunities for sugar reduction by customizing taste and texture performance.

Consumer research conducted by Ingredion reveals that 76% of consumers believe that consuming less sugar is important for their health, and that two thirds of consumers are willing to pay more for food and beverage products that assist them in meeting their sugar intake objectives.