Sugar policy reform bills attract industry support

Sugar policy reform is back on the US legislative agenda, as two new bills that aim to end the sugar price support program have attracted broad food industry support.

The Free Market Sugar Act was introduced by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) on Wednesday, a week after Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) introduced his Free Sugar Act of 2011.

The American Sugar Alliance, which represents the interests of sugar growers, claims that US sugar policy“hasn’t cost taxpayers a dime since 2001” – but Lugar says that the policy creates a hidden sugar tax.

“Every American business that makes candies, ice cream, cookies, bread, or sells lattes, sandwiches, or cupcakes, is paying more than twice the world market price for sugar because of this hidden tax,”“American consumers pay for this tax, while more and more sugar users are being driven out of business because of off-shore producers who don’t have to pay high prices dictated by the US government.” Lugar said.

3rd World Conference on Stevia 2011

The World Stevia Organisation (WSO) is pleased to inform you about the 3^rd World Conference on Stevia 2011: The Challenge of Taste, which will be held in Paris in May 25, 2011.

We attract your attention that you still have few to benefit of early bird registration fees.

Please click here to access to the PDF programme and registration form.

Why a specific conference about Taste and After-Taste of Stevia?

During the 1^st Conference on Stevia held in Paris in May 2010, and the Second World congress on Stevia and Stevia Growing held in Malta last October, all industrials seemed interested to use Stevia as a new natural sweetner. However, one big “problem” was detected by consumers: the taste and after-taste.

The main question remained unanswered was “How to limit and hide the after-taste of Stevia in Beverages and Products?”. The consumers need a neutral taste adapted to his culture.

Stevia - The Zero Calorie All Natural Sweetner

Stevia is a South American herb that has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. The leaves of this small, green Stevia rebaudiana plant have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar.

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Stevia has many excellent properties. The body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides from the stevia leaf or any of its processed forms - so there is no caloric intake. Stevia doesn't adversely affect blood glucose levels and may be used freely by diabetics.

New natural PepsiCo product could influence industry shift towards sugar

Sierra Mist Natural, PepsiCo’s reformulated carbonated soft drink product, may indicate a swing towards the use of sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, say two industry analysts.

PepsiCo North America Beverages said that the re-launch this week of its niche lemon-lime soda product was fuelled by growing US consumer demand for natural ingredients, with the drink now positioned as containing 'real sugar' along with no artificial ingredients or flavours, preservatives, or caffeine.

Influence on soft drink industry

“The biggest thing that stands out here is the use of natural sugar,” said Tom Vierhile, director of product launch analytics at Datamonitor.

He added that the Sierra Mist Natural launch could open the door to more formulation of other soft drink brands, encouraging them to embrace sweeteners such as cane sugar and possibly agave and stevia.

Vierhile said that the move to 'natural sugar' has been happening for some time at the high-end of the market with gourmet soft drinks, “but PepsiCo’s move suggests that the soft drink giants may soon be phasing in this change with some of their more niche-oriented product.”

What is Stevia?

Stevia is of the Composite family, related to lettuce, marigold and chicory. It was "Officially" discovered in the late 19th century by Dr. Moises Santiago Bertoni. He was given samples of the plant and he reported that "one small piece of the leaf will keep the mouth sweet for an hour". He named the plant Stevia Rebuadiani Bertoni in honor of a Paraguayan chemist name Rebaudi. Bertoni found that the Guarani Indians had been using the leaves of the plant to sweeten bitter teas and as a sweet treat.

Is Stevia Safe? Stevia has been used since pre-Colombian times with no reports of ill side affects. Stevia has also withstood years of research that has proven Stevia to be safe for human and animal consumption.