Sweegen delights expanding extensive sweetener portfolio with brazzein

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 -- Sweegen is expanding its extensive sweetener portfolio in early 2022 with zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetener brazzein.

According to a statement, the product was developed in collaboration with long-term innovation partner Conagen, which has scaled it to commercial production.

“Introducing a high-purity brazzein to Sweegen’s portfolio of natural sweeteners is one more creative solution for helping brands make low-calorie better-for-you products,” said Sweegen's SVP, Head of Global Innovation, Shari Mahon.

“Brands can look forward to exploring the synergistic benefits of combining brazzein and stevia for reducing sugar in food and beverages in a cost-effective way.”

Brazzein is a small, heat-stable protein, 500 to 2,000 times sweeter than regular sugar, making it very attractive to food and beverage manufacturers seeking excellent value in a sweetener.

It is stable in a wide range of pH and retains its qualities after pasteurisation, and is also readily soluble, making it ideal for sugar reduction across a spectrum of food and beverage applications.

As a sweet protein, brazzein has great promise to fit into consumer diets, such as Keto, diabetes, or low-to-no carbohydrate lifestyles. Health-conscious consumers are also turning away from artificial sweeteners and accepting nature-based sweeteners, such as stevia and allulose.

Found sparingly in nature, brazzein derives from the West African climbing plant’s fruit, oubli. To scale brazzein sustainably, Conagen produces it by a proprietary precision fermentation process, a technology producing clean, nature-based ingredients.

Sweegen provides sweet taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. More details at www.sweegen.com.

-- BERNAMA