VANCOUVER, B.C. — GLG Life Tech Corp. in the second quarter plans to introduce Sweet Success, a line extension of stevia-based sweeteners designed for food and beverage manufacturers seeking to use stevia sweetening systems in a more cost-effective manner.

GLG Life Tech will seek a no-objection letter from the Food and Drug Administration on the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status of the Sweet Success sweeteners. The proprietary formulas fall under a total steviol glycoside reading of 97% or greater.

Steviol glycosides are found in the stevia leaf and, depending on the type of steviol glycoside, provide a certain amount of sweetness. Rebaudioside A is recognized as the sweetest steviol glycoside. GLG Life Tech offers such Reb A sweeteners as Rebpure (at least 97% Reb A), Rebsweet and Anysweet.

The Sweet Success series of sweeteners will maintain the taste, all-natural and zero-calorie advantages of stevia high-intensity sweeteners on the market today, according to GLG Life Tech.

“In the current beverage market environment, which is demonstrating tremendous focus on new product development, GLG is committed to providing solutions to help speed the ability for stevia-based products to reach shelves,” said Luke Zhang, chairman and chief executive officer for Vancouver-based GLG Life Tech. “Food and beverage companies know that they must offer consumers more options in terms of lower calories, all-natural ingredients and healthier choices.

“Our Sweet Success line provides a stable, great tasting sweetening system with the advantages of earlier offerings, but at a price point that we believe will allow the (food and beverage) industry a wider scope in formulation.”