Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is calling for comment on an application for the production of food additive sweeteners, steviol glycosides, through bioconversion.
The steviol glycosides – rebaudioside M and rebaudioside I – are manufactured using three protein engineered enzymes not currently permitted for such use.
FSANZ CEO Dr Sandy Cuthbert said the steviol glycosides sweeteners are equivalent to others already permitted for use in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code but have a different method of production.
“If approved, these steviol glycosides will be used as a low-calorie sweetener in a range of food products consistent with other permissions,” Dr Cuthbert said.
“Steviol glycosides can be sourced from the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (stevia), but can also be produced by different methods.”
Dr Cuthbert said FSANZ had conducted a thorough safety assessment and found no public health or safety concerns with the method of production using the three enzymes.
The period for comment closes at 6pm (Canberra time) 25 July 2023
What happens to my feedback?
Submissions will be published to our website as soon as possible after the end of the public comment period.
We will consider all feedback received through this submission process before making a decision on whether to approve the application.
FSANZ’s decision will be notified to ministers responsible for food regulation who can ask for a review or agree that the standard should become law.
