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Cargill expands in fermentation-based steviol glycosides

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:35 +0800

A development program for fermentation-based steviol glycosides is moving into pilot scale ahead of schedule, Cargill and Evolva Holding S.A. said Sept. 9. The process, which does not involve the stevia plant, is designed to lower the cost of the zero-calorie, high-intensity sweeteners.

Evolva Holding makes individual components of the sweetener stevia via fermentation in yeast. The process uses low-cost plant sugars as starting material. The process bypasses the logistics associated with the traditional cultivation, processing and refining of stevia plants, which makes the supply more reliable and scalable at a lower cost, according to Reinach-based Evolva Holding.

Minneapolis-based Cargill and Evolva Holding on March 6 entered an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize fermentation-based steviol glycosides. Commercialization now may come sooner than expected, the two companies said Sept. 9.

“We are confident about our technical progress to date and are now moving to pilot scale in 2013 versus the original plan of 2014,” said Jill Zullo, technical director, Cargill Corn Milling North America.

Under the agreement, Cargill made an equity investment of 4.5 million Swiss francs ($4.8 million) in Evolva, which also stands to receive up to $7.5 million in milestone payments. Cargill will be responsible for commercialization.

Evolva has the right to a participation of up to 45% in the final business. If Evolva decides not to exercise the option, it will receive royalty payments from global sales of the co-developed steviol glycoside products. The royalties will scale from the mid-single digit to low double-digit percentages as a function of sales volume and other parameters.

“The stevia market is focused on understanding the subtleties of how different steviol glycosides interact to create the most pleasing sweetness profile,” said David Henstrom, global business director for health ingredients, Cargill Corn Milling North America. “This technology complements Cargill’s existing and forthcoming innovations in stevia-based sweeteners. With this development, it gives us the confidence to deeply engage with customers to identify great-tasting solutions.”

Cargill played a role in introducing the use of stevia-based sweeteners into foods and beverages in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration in December of 2008 answered a Generally Recognized As Safe GRAS) filing from Cargill by issuing a letter of no objection for the use of Rebaudioside A, a steviol glycoside in the stevia leaf, as an ingredient in foods and beverages. Cargill’s Truvia sweetener includes erythritol, stevia leaf extract and natural flavors.

According to Evolva Holding, stevia components are found in low concentrations in the stevia plant and are hard to extract. Fermentation allows the production of the individual components, including steviol glycosides, in any required volume.

Australian study fuels artificial sweetener debate

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:35 +0800

New research from the University of Adelaide has added to the debate about how our bodies respond to artificial sweeteners and whether they are good, bad or have no effect on us.

In a study published in this month's Diabetes Care journal, researchers in the University's School of Medicine and the Nerve-Gut Laboratory have found that artificially sweetened drinks produced no different response in the healthy human gut to a glass of water.

The findings, by PhD student Dr Tongzhi Wu, are contrary to some other studies in humans and in laboratory-based research.

"This is a controversial area because there's a lot of conflicting research into artificial sweeteners," says senior author Associate Professor Chris Rayner, from the University of Adelaide's School of Medicine and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

"The scientific debate centres on whether artificial sweeteners have a negative impact on our bodies, such as leading to the storage of fat. There are also questions about whether they have a beneficial impact, such as producing responses that signal fullness to the brain, or if they are inert and produce no impact.

"In our most recent study involving healthy men, we found that the gut's response to artificially sweetened drinks was neutral - it was no different to drinking a glass of water.

"The fact is, the human studies have been unclear as to whether artificial sweeteners have a positive or negative effect, and this is why we're keen to better understand what's happening in our bodies," Associate Professor Rayner says.

Co-author Dr Richard Young, Senior Postdoctoral Researcher in the University's Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory, says population-level studies have yet to agree on the effects of long-term artificial sweetener intake in humans. However, a recent study has shown an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in regular and high consumers of artificially sweetened drinks.

"Those studies indicate that artificial sweeteners may interact with the gut in the longer term, but so far no-one's managed to determine the actual mechanisms through which these sweeteners act," Dr Young says.

"It's a complicated area because the way in which the sweet taste receptors in our gut detect and act on sweetness is very complex.

"So far it appears that artificial sweeteners have limited impact in the short term, but in people in a pre-diabetic or diabetic state, who are more likely to be regularly high users of artificial sweeteners, it might be a different story altogether. This is why more research is needed," Dr Young says.

This study has been funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Full details of the research can be found on the Diabetes Care website.

ConAgra sales rescued by Ralcorp acquisition

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:34 +0800

ConAgra Foods has reported results for its fiscal 2014 first quarter. Although total sales were up 27% to $4.201.8m from $3,302.3 vs. the year-ago period, this was entirely contributed by sales from Ralcorp, which ConAgra acquired in January 2013. Operating profit was up by 6.0% to $398m.

Sales for the Commercial Foods segment were $1.26 billion, essentially in line with $1.27 billion a year ago. Segment operating profit was $130 million, 7% below year-ago amounts.

Our first-quarter Consumer Foods volumes were lower than planned due to category and customer challenges,” said Gary Rodkin, ConAgra Foods’ chief executive officer. “We are revising our merchandising and promotion plans to improve our volume, and we have already begun additional SG&A cost management initiatives that should improve EPS performance as the fiscal year progresses. We still expect to post good EPS growth this fiscal year, and we are confident in our long-term EPS growth and cash flow outlook as the sizeable synergies from Ralcorp are achieved over the next few years.”

The company currently expects fiscal 2014 diluted EPS, adjusted for items impacting comparability, to be approximately $2.34-$2.38. This reduction from prior estimates reflects the softer-than-planned first quarter EPS, partially offset by additional SG&A cost management initiatives, a more favourable input cost environment, and the expectation for gradually improving Consumer Foods volumes.

Given the gradual nature of the anticipated recovery from the volume challenges, the company expects its fiscal 2014 second-quarter diluted EPS to be in the range of $0.55, adjusted for items impacting comparability. The company therefore expects the full year’s growth in EPS to occur in the second half of the fiscal year.

Hilmar Cheese to build milk powder processing facility in California

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:34 +0800

Hilmar Cheese is set to construct a milk powder processing facility in Turlock, California, to meet strong global demand for milk powders.

The facility will add 40 full time jobs to the local economy when completed. It will produce a range of milk powders, a convenient form of milk that does not require refrigeration and is simple to reconstitute.

Hilmar Cheese CEO and president John Jeter said, "The U.S. dairy industry, and specifically California, is well positioned to be a consistent supplier to the world."

Hilmar Ingredients vice president Tom Ielmini said, "With this expansion into milk powders, we are continuing our tradition of converting our high quality milk supply into the value-added products customers want."

The company said that the plant will feature advanced equipment to capture the water in milk, which will be recycled, reused and passed through a preliminary treatment before going to the Turlock Regional Water Quality Control facility.

Capilano Honey records sweet profits

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:34 +0800

The company which listed with the ASX in July 2012, has more than doubled its profit to $2.95m before tax for the six months ending December 31, 2013. Yesterday also saw the honey company’s share price rise 23.7 percent to a record $4.90 before losing some traction later that afternoon, The Australian Financial Review reports.

Drought and adverse weather conditions impacted on crop production in recent times, resulting in the sharp rise of honey prices.

The popularity of honey as a medicinal alternative internationally is also continuing to drive sales according to Ben McKee, Capilano’s managing director.

"Domestic market share has again risen; assisted by the launch of a new pot-set honey, premium offerings in glass jars focusing on the provenance of honey and an expanded ranging of medicinal manuka honeys," said Mckee in a statement.

McKee also noted that the company’s acquisition of former competitor Wescobee, coupled with wider distribution internationally has also helped lift sales.

“Export sales have likewise grown as we have achieved greater ranging of our branded products and have begun wider distribution throughout Asia,” he said.

Z Trim Holdings Reports Best 4th Quarter in Company History

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:33 +0800

Z Trim Holdings, Inc., a biotechnology company providing value-added ingredients to a variety of industries, today announced that it recorded, for the 4th quarter of 2013, $387,006 in sales which is a 76% increase over $220,433 in the 4th quarter of 2012.

For the twelve months ending December 31, 2013, the company recorded sales growth of 12% over the prior year. However, due to the bad weather in the Midwest, approximately $30,000 worth of purchase orders did not get picked up from our warehouse before year-end, but has since been shipped. As a result, our December sales were only $249,179, as opposed to $276,900 (as previously set forth in our press release dated January 6, 2014). These purchase orders will be included in our sales for Q1 2014.

"Our sales development in 2013 is due to continued growth in dairy, salad dressings and sauces as well as new business in the meat and fish categories. We also added several new customers and significantly expanded our project pipeline," said Lynda Carroll, Z Trim's VP of Sales and Applications. "We expect to grow sales at a much faster pace in 2014, in part due to the increasing emphasis on improving the nutritional value of processed foods, both here in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to lowering costs, improving shelf-life, and managing moisture, Z Trim's unique ability to help make foods healthier without changing taste or mouthfeel is something manufacturers simply cannot get anywhere else."

AAK and Premier Foods agree a three-year co-development deal

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:32 +0800

AarhusKarlshamn (AAK UK) has been selected by Premier Foods, one of Britain's largest branded food producers, to be its long term co-development partner for the supply of vegetable oils, fats and related food ingredients as part of a new, three-year collaboration.

AAK and Premier Foods have worked together for over 20 years, but this exclusive collaboration will allow true co-development opportunities and will bring exciting, next generation innovations, ideas and technologies for the consumer and generate shareholder value.

“We need the best suppliers to help us achieve our vision to be “The Best in British Food”. The development of long-term partnerships is an excellent way to ensure we can continue to innovate in support of our brands. We are looking forward to working more closely with AAK, whose relevant technical skills are of highest possible calibre and whose products and technologies can be found in every food category across every region of the world”, says Mark Hughes, Group Procurement Director of Premier Foods.

AAK is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high value-added speciality vegetable oils and fats.

Sabinsa breaks ground on new extraction facility in India

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:31 +0800

Sabinsa, a manufacturer, supplier and marketer of herbal extracts, cosmeceuticals, minerals, dietary supplements and specialty fine chemicals for the nutritional, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries, has begun construction on a new continuous extraction facility that will increase production capacity by 200%.

"While we are primarily known for investing heavily in science and IP, we clearly also invest in insuring a sustainable supply of our proprietary ingredients to the marketplace," said Sabinsa's founder, Dr. Muhammed Majeed. “Our farm cultivation program was the first part of the sustainability endeavour, and this expansion is part two."

The earth breaking ceremony for the US$5 million 75,000 square foot expansion project at Dobaspet, India was the first step in creating a manufacturing plant that will feature a 25 MT per day capacity continuous extractor, a 15,000 square foot down stream facility, a microbiology lab and a 45,000 square foot warehouse. The facility is expected to complete in mid-2014.

C.C.C. offered 7,118 tons sugar in tender

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:30 +0800

The U.S. Department of Agriculture late Aug. 30 said it bought 7,118 tons of sugar for $3.6 million that was resold to biofuels producers for about $900,000, or about 25% of cost, under the Feedstock Flexibility Program.

The refined beet sugar was purchased from the Western Sugar Cooperative and purchased by Front Range Energy, L.L.C., a Windsor, Colo.-based ethanol maker. Although there was said to have been good interest from biofuel producers, some noted interest was dampened by the approaching corn harvest and by legal restrictions on emissions that limited ethanol feedstock to corn or grain.

Sugar processors had originally offered the U.S.D.A. 99,375 tons of refined beet and raw cane sugar, but under the F.F.P. the U.S.D.A. will buy only the amount that may be resold to biofuels producers. Sugar sold in the tender had to be pledged against loans maturing on Aug. 31 and buyers had to use it in the production of biofuels.

It was the U.S.D.A.’s third tender, but the first under the F.F.P., for sugar in the past two months. In the first tender the U.S.D.A. bought 91,238 tonnes of refined beet and raw cane sugar that was exchanged for 299,153 tonnes of refined sugar re-export credits and Certificates of Quota Eligibility. In a second tender the U.S.D.A. purchased 15,504 tonnes of raw cane sugar that was exchanged for 46,559 tonnes of re-export credits. The U.S.D.A. spent a total of $50.706 million in the earlier tenders.

The U.S.D.A. is seeking to remove sugar from the market to avoid forfeitures against government loans taken by sugar processors.

Also Friday afternoon, the U.S.D.A. said it set the 2013-14 (fiscal 2014) overall sugar marketing allotment quantity (O.A.Q.) at 9,843,000 tons, raw value, equal to 85% of projected human sugar consumption, as required by law.

The department also said the domestic cane sector would not be able to fulfill its allotted quantity in 2012-13 (fiscal 2013) and reassigned some of the 2012-13 surplus to a Louisiana cane processor and the rest to imports that already were expected to enter the United States.

“At this time the Commodity Credit Corp. determined that it does not expect to purchase sugar using the F.F.P. authority in FY 2014 because sugar market forecasts indicate that the domestic sugar surplus will be less in FY 2014 than in FY 2013,” the U.S.D.A. said.

RSPO certifies world’s second largest group of independent smallholders

Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:30 +0800

International scheme and multi-stakeholder organisation for sustainable palm oil, the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) recently certified the world’s second largest group of independent smallholders through its group certification in Indonesia, following its announcement in late 2012 of its first community in Thailand.

The community is based in the Indonesian province of Riau under the entity Asosiasi Petani Swadaya AMANAH, involving 349 smallholders over 763 hectares of total certified area. The certification process was guided and supported by WWF Indonesia, Carrefour Foundation International and PT. Inti Indosawit Subur.

An analysis implemented on this group’s certification clearly outlined a few distinctions before and after certification in management practices, yield and production output, decreased use of herbicide and chemicals (with the example of herbicide cost which more than halved from IDR 900,000/ha/year to IDR 400,000/ha/year after certification) and increased Fresh Fruit Bunches production (up 20% from 20 tonnes/ha/year to 24 tonnes/ha/year).

“The long term benefits of being RSPO certified are highly significant,” said Haji Sunarno, manager of the Amanah Association. “The boost in productivity we experienced occurred during the dry season, when yields tend to be lower, which means that even with this successful result, we could have increased productivity even more if the external factors were better.”

“The world’s largest producer of palm oil, Indonesia, should be commended as it encourages more smallholders to come into the sustainable sphere,” said Darrel Webber, RSPO’s secretary general. “In Indonesia, smallholders account for more than 40% of national palm oil production. There is increasing awareness on the advantages of being RSPO certified which includes access to international markets, longer-term efficiencies in terms of yield and productivity, as well as better cost management.”

“WWF-Indonesia sees independent smallholders as an important part of Indonesia’s palm oil industry,” said Dr. Efransjah, CEO of WWF-Indonesia. “It is our belief that RSPO certification programs, like the one that the Amanah Association joined, will stand out as a good example of sustainable practice for palm oil plantation and will serve as a model to be adopted by other independent smallholders.”

The current estimated annual production capacity of RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil is 8.6 million metric tons, approximately 15% of global crude palm oil. Spread over 2.4 million hectares of certified area, about 46.8% of the world's current RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil production capacity comes from Indonesia, followed by 45.3% from Malaysia, and the remaining 7.9% from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Brazil, Thailand, Colombia and Ivory Coast.