RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CALIF. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) no objection letter to SweeGen, Inc. for the use of Bestevia Rebaudioside E in food.

Reb E is one of the main components in the company’s Bestevia e+ ingredient, which has been shown to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in many applications, including beverages, dairy items, sports nutrition products, condiments and baked foods.

“Bestevia e+ provides a clean, sugar-like taste at a price equivalent to sugar,” said Katharina Pueller, director of natural sweeteners business. “In addition to the success we have with our non-G.M.O. Bestevia Reb M and Reb D, we are excited to add Bestevia e+ to our sweetener portfolio.”

Rancho Santa Margarita-based SweeGen commercialized Reb E, which also is non-G.M.O., at the end of 2018.