FDBusiness.com

The Real Stevia Company has announced that its Real Stevia is now approved by Barry Callebaut, having undergone extensive safety and quality tests throughout the supply chain. The company notes that Barry Callebaut puts great emphasis on sustainable chocolate and cocoa production, from the individual farmer to consumer.

“We have long seen a growing trend in the market for sustainable products of natural origin, the cornerstone of our business,” said Sophia Horn af Rantzien, Managing Director of The Real Stevia Company. “The approval of Real Stevia to a world leading company like Barry Callebaut is proof that the market is being driven forward in s sustainable direction, suggesting a continued positive expansion of our stevia products.”

The Real Stevia Company says it has a strong sustainability profile and collaborates with farmers in Paraguay, China and other countries where stevia plants are grown. The partnership brings full transparency and traceability from the product to the individual farmer. The company provides seedlings, training and technical support to farmers, educating them in how stevia is grown in a sustainable way and how to bring out the best flavour.

Our stevia products have so far proved a success in chocolate products,” said Horn. “The good taste is in the leaf and is crucial for a successful product. A tasty stevia leaf is as important as using the right cocoa beans in the production of a quality chocolate.”

The market for stevia has grown substantially in the past year as the demand for sugar-reduced food have continued to rise, the Real Stevia Company points out. Additionally, it says, consumers are becoming less interested in artificial alternatives while steviol glycosides, which are extracted by soaking stevia leaves in water, are natural and calorie-free. The global stevia market accounts for approximately 1% of the total sweetener market (according to Credit Suisse) and the market is expecting a growth of between 8-17% over the next 20 years.