Reb C is one of eleven primary glycosides (sweet components) in the stevia leaf, thought to act as a sweetness modulator in foods, enabling up to a 25 percent calorie reduction, although it is not a sweetener in itself. It is a by-product of Reb A production, the main steviol glycoside ingredient in many stevia-based sweeteners.
GLG Life Tech said that the agreement leverages each company’s strengths – GLG’s expertise in steviol glycoside extraction, along with IFF’s expertise in the development of innovative flavor systems. The two companies have been working together with Reb C since March this year, but GLG said this latest move will help both companies to pursue commercialization of Reb C.
Vice president R&D, Flavors for IFF Mark Dewis said: "Commercialization of Reb C marks another step forward in the evolution and development of IFF flavor solutions. This technology will play an important role in supporting healthy and great-tasting flavors for our customers.”
IFF also signed a five-year supply agreement with Redpoint Bio for that company’s Reb C in June last year, and the flavor house had expressed interest in using the plant-derived sweetness enhancer in combination with nutritive sweeteners, in order to reduce calories while preserving the taste and mouthfeel of sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
GLG Life Tech’s chairman and CEO Dr. Luke Zhang said: "Our leading capabilities in the separation of steviol glycosides, production quality, and scale, coupled with IFF's global strengths in innovative and advanced flavour systems for high purity Reb C, make this an exciting global opportunity for GLG. We are pleased to be working with International Flavors & Fragrances to help develop the market for high purity Reb C."