Stevia Update: Regulatory Status, Market Potential and Product Development

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Time: 8:30-11:30am
Location: Venetian Resort & Casino – Casanova 605

Co-sponsored by

Workshop Leaders

Mark Blumenthal, Founder and Executive Director, American Botanical Council (ABC)
Robert S. McQuate, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, GRAS Associates LLC

Stevia is one of the hottest topics of discussion among food and beverage companies. Several companies have recently introduced stevia-based sweeteners or announced plans to do so soon. As marketers and product developers consider all of the possibilities this no-calorie, natural sweetener could offer, there remain many questions. First, what is the regulatory status of stevia as a food or beverage ingredient and how is it changing? Are all stevia ingredients now Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)? Are all stevia-based sweeteners the same? What products are already in the marketplace and what is being introduced? And what is the real potential of this much-anticipated ingredient? In this pre-conference event, we cover these topics and more, including market forecasts, new product introductions, and product development issues. If sweeteners play a role in your current or future products, this is a must-attend event.

Speaker Biographies

Mark Blumenthal, Founder and Executive Director, American Botanical Council (ABC)
Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council (ABC), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable and responsible information on medicinal plants. Blumenthal is the editor of HerbalGram, an international, peer-reviewed quarterly journal, and HerbClip, ABC’s reviews of recent scientific literature on herbs. He is the senior editor of three reference books: The Complete German Commission E Monographs – Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs and The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs, and co-author of Rational Phytotherapy, 5th ed.

Robert S. McQuate, Ph.D., Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, GRAS Associates LLC
McQuate is co-founder and CEO of Oregon-based GRAS Associates LLC, a consulting firm with a strong FDA heritage that focuses on food ingredient safety matters. GRAS Associates convenes independent expert panels that produce rigorous GRAS evaluations and also assists clients with new dietary ingredient and color additive submissions to FDA. Dr. McQuate specializes in business development applications for innovative food ingredients that are of interest to clients, and also serves as an expert witness in food ingredient litigation matters. He began his regulatory career within FDA's GRAS Review Branch prior to serving in technical management in the private sector with The Dial Co., and subsequently as science director with the National Soft Drink Association. While in the private sector, Dr. McQuate addressed numerous high visibility food safety issues including caloric and non-nutritive sweeteners, color additives, and caffeine.

Agenda

8:30am – Welcome Comments
Jon Benninger – Director, Business Development, Virgo Publishing LLC

8:35am – Stevia: History, Botany, Distribution, Cultivation, Chemistry, Market Status and Regulation of a Controversial Sweetener and Dietary Supplement
Mark Blumenthal – Founder and Executive Director, American Botanical Council (ABC)

10:05am – Session Break

10:15am – Stevia-Derived Sweeteners: Fulfilling Requirements for GRAS Status
Robert S. McQuate, Ph.D. – Co-founder and CEO, GRAS Associates LLC

11:25am – Closing Remarks
Jon Benninger – Director, Business Development, Virgo Publishing LLC