Call for comment on a food additive sweetener

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application to allow an already permitted food additive sweetener (steviol glycosides) to be produced by fermentation from a genetically modified Yarrowia lipolytica strain.

FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said the steviol glycosides sweetener is similar to a range of other steviol glycosides already permitted for use in the Food Standards Code, it is only the method of production that is different.

“If approved, this steviol glycoside would be used as a low-calorie sweetener in a range of food products.

​“Steviol glycosides can be sourced from the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (stevia), but can also be produced by different methods.

“FSANZ has conducted a thorough safety assessment and found no public health or safety concerns with this type of steviol glycoside," Mr Booth said.