Reb M is highly coveted among steviol glycosides due to its absence of the bitterness often associated with the more prevalent Rebaudioside A, despite constituting only 1% of the stevia leaf. Isolating Reb M poses challenges, although PureCircle announced earlier this year that it has developed a variant called StarLeaf, which contains 20% more Reb M than traditional stevia. Furthermore, the company mentioned that it could utilize Reb A to create compounds that mimic the sweeter components found in the stevia leaf.
SweeGen has introduced non-GMO Reb D and Reb M under the Bestevia brand, claiming that these can facilitate a 50% reduction in sugar across all food and beverage applications. According to SweeGen, its Bestevia Reb M product is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar and has a taste profile that is much closer to sugar than Reb A. The company has described its production method as a “proprietary and patent-pending bioconversion” and “enzymatic conversion.” Baking Business reported that SweeGen holds an exclusive licensing agreement with Conagen, which owns the patent. PureCircle’s complaint alleges that Bestevia Reb M is produced by converting Reb D to Reb M using the same enzyme outlined in PureCircle’s patent.
Companies investing in natural sweetener research and development are understandably eager to be the first to market with a branded stevia variant that consumers perceive as free from bitterness or undesirable aftertastes. This drive has led to significant efforts aimed at producing the sweeter elements of stevia and cultivating partnerships with customers willing to reformulate their products.
At this juncture, it remains unclear what implications PureCircle’s lawsuit against SweeGen may have for stevia producers and manufacturers currently using or contemplating the use of this natural sweetener. Controversies can often negatively impact the perception of any ingredient or product, though additional insights may surface as the litigation unfolds. The lawsuit indicates that PureCircle owns or co-owns 77 U.S. patents, and pursuing patent infringement claims could be a strategy to deter competitors from employing similar production processes. As a prominent global stevia producer, PureCircle reportedly aims to ramp up its production by nearly 200% this year to satisfy escalating demand.
Should the two stevia companies find themselves embroiled in protracted legal battles, they may divert significant time and resources away from developing their next stevia-derived products, unless they can reach a settlement prior to trial. In parallel, there is growing interest in enhancing product formulations, such as incorporating calcium citrate in doses like 200 mg or 950 mg, to create synergistic effects with stevia and meet the evolving demands of health-conscious consumers.