Day: May 4, 2023

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FEMA GRAS status for Sweegen’s sweet protein brazzein technology

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., May 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global sweetness and flavor innovator, Sweegen has announced that its highly sought-after sweet protein Ultratia™ brazzein technology received the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status from the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA).

“Our customers and the industry have eagerly anticipated our brazzein FEMA GRAS status, and now we are excited to offer it as the star sweet protein in our Sweetensify Flavors Collection,” said Luca Giannone, SVP of Sales. “We’re pleased to demonstrate our Ultratia brazzein in the newly launched Sweetensify Flavors Collection at the IFT First trade show in Chicago July 17-19, 2023.”

Brands are encouraged to visit Sweegen’s food and beverage application team at IFT First, the Sweegen booth, located at the South Building — S1619 — IFT, for a sensory experience and learn how it can easily fit into their food and beverage products.

Sweegen is the first to attain FEMA GRAS status and to produce brazzein commercially globally. The designation is important because it allows manufacturers to use Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors confidently, including the novel sweet protein brazzein in their product formulations.

Brazzein’s unique characteristics make it special, and its commercialization and scaling have been challenging until now. Brazzein is a rare sweet protein that originates from the fruit of the West African climbing plant, oubli. To produce brazzein sustainably, Sweegen uses a proprietary precision fermentation process, which creates clean high-purity ingredients.

“This important milestone in food and beverage creation symbolizes Sweegen delivering on its promise to brands for opening doors to scalable state-of-the-art technology for creating better-for-everyone food and beverages,” said Hadi Omrani, VP of technical and regulatory affairs. “The FEMA GRAS status is a testament to the safety of brazzein as a flavor modifier that our customers can trust to explore new and exciting taste-modulating solutions.”

Sweetensify Flavors for taste modulation improves and modulates a variety of taste attributes, which can help brands push the boundaries of healthier product innovation. Brazzein’s exceptional formulation qualities inspired Sweegen to launch Sweentisify Flavors in April 2023. It is the newest flavor tool starring its novel sweet protein Ultratia brazzein, which also features thaumatin II and other unique proteins.

“Sweegen’s product development teams have discovered remarkable synergies between Sweetensify Flavors and our Signature Stevia systems,” said Casey McCormick, VP of global innovation.

Sweet proteins like brazzein have an affinity for different taste receptors on the tongue, especially the receptor known as T1R3, which is associated with both umami and sweetness perception. Leveraging this unique attribute, Sweetensify Flavors will enable product developers to maintain the quality of characteristic flavors and sweetness while reducing the amount of sugar they use in products.

“Sweegen’s Ultratia brazzein has received great feedback from our customers during the initial formulations phase and tastings,” said Casey McCormick, VP of global innovation. “Now, the timing of the FEMA GRAS status perfectly coincides with the launch of Sweegen’s Sweetensify Flavors, which offers the best sensory experience in better-for-everyone products.”

Sweegen recently attained FEMA GRAS status for thaumatin II, a sweet protein complementary to brazzein. With the addition of brazzein, Sweegen continues to expand its portfolio of safe and effective taste modulating flavors that can help food and beverage manufacturers meet the demand for healthier and delicious products to align with consumers’ holistic approaches to wellness.

About Sweegen

Sweegen provides sweet-taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.
We are on a mission to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in the global diet. Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love. With the best modern sweeteners in our portfolio, such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, and sweet proteins brazzein and thaumatin, along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, Sweegen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want, and consumers prefer. Well. Into the Future.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Sweegen’s actual results may differ from the estimates, assumptions, and other illustrative material contained herein, and consequently, a reader should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, illustrative information regarding Sweegen’s bottom-up assumed market potential, assumed hit rate, and the resulting revenue based on these model inputs. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Industry, Market, and Other Data
In this press release, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding market participants in the sectors in which Sweegen competes and other data. We obtained this information and statistics from our own internal estimates and third-party sources, including reports by market research firms and company filings. We do not expressly refer to these sources. All of this information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and the sources of such information cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. The industry in which Sweegen operates is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of important factors, any of which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by Sweegen or third parties.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, among other statements, statements regarding the future prospects for Reb M stevia leaf sweetener, brazzein, and thaumatin. These statements are based on current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond Sweegen’s control.

Relevant risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements and therefore should be carefully considered. Sweegen assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Attachments

Ana Arakelian, Head of Public Relations and Communications
Sweegen
+1.949.709.0583
ana.arakelian@sweegen.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8831913

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U.S. Federal Reserve hikes interest rates by 25 basis points

WASHINGTON, 3rd May, 2023 (WAM) — The U.S Federal Reserve, in its meeting held today, raised interest rates by 25 basis points (bp). The decision sets the U.S. Central Bank’s benchmark overnight interest rate to the 5.00 percent 5.25 percent range, the tenth consecutive increase since March 2022. Khoder Nashar

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

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Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi organises Sustainability Day

ABU DHABI, 4th May, 2023 (WAM) Sorbonne University has organised a Sustainability Day on Campus to educate students on the importance of protecting the environment and making advancements in sustainable practices and technologies accessible to create positive change within their daily lives. The initiative align’s with the university’s Go Green 2023 Initiative, which is aimed at raising awareness and cultivating initiatives that address climate change challenges to move towards a more sustainable future. During the Sustainability Day, attendees can learn about the latest sustainability and ecological conservation developments through engaging activities, conversations, and workshops. By experiencing interactive elements such as these, students could better understand the importance of recycling, reducing their carbon footprint, and the power of making positive choices for the environment. Eisa Al Raesi, Head of Students Affairs Department at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, said, “Such events will lead our students towards a brighter, more sustainable future, and will empower them to make informed sustainable choices that will contribute to a better future and the preservation of our planet.” The event also featured a vibrant and interactive marketplace with exhibitors showcasing the latest, most innovative and revolutionary sustainable development products, services and activities from across the region. These exhibitors and participants included Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Youth 4 Sustainability, Emirates Nature-WWF, Emirates Green Building Council, The Climate Fresk, The National Aquarium Abu Dhabi, Air France, Edama Organic Solutions, 3D Middle East, Electricite de France, Baker Hughes, Nautica Environmental Solutions LLC, and EcoBuild.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)

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CONTACTS INTENSIFY OVER SYRIA’S RETURN TO ARAB LEAGUE

Jordan kicked off a series of contacts with Arab countries and officials in wake of its hosting of a meeting of regional envoys on Monday to discuss Syria’s return to the Arab League. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Syria. Soon after their departure from Amman, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi held a series of telephone talks with his counterparts in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Morocco, Lebanon, Algeria and Tunisia. A Jordanian Foreign Ministry statement said Safadi briefed them on the details of the “first meeting between Arab countries and Syria since the eruption of the Syrian crisis.” The meeting marked the beginning of a “new political path in efforts to resolve the crisis” by Arab countries, it added. Damascus is slowly returning to the Arab fold after being ostracized over President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on a peaceful 2011 uprising that descended into a yearslong war. However, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country in recent years, Syria’s neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said the meeting on Monday came as a follow-up to talks with Arab Gulf countries, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt held in Saudi Arabia last month and focused on a “Jordanian initiative to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis.” Saudi Arabia is set to host the next Arab League summit later in May. Jordanian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Monday’s talks discussed the possibility of a vote on reinstating Syria’s membership in the Arab League. Countries that have reservations over or oppose Syria’s return could be offered the choice to abstain from the vote, added the sources. Such an option could facilitate reaching such a major decision that is Syria’s return to the organization and ending the boycott against it, they continued. This, in turn, could influence the international stance, while Syria is also expected to take tangible steps in ending the war. It remains to be seen what steps Damascus will take to resolve the conflict in exchange for its return to the Arab League. Jordan’s initiative to end the crisis is based on the “step-for-step” approach. One of the main issues that were discussed on Monday was Syria’s smuggling of drugs to the region, with demands being made that it crack down on the illegal activity that has become a threat to the countries of the region. The gatherers on Monday agreed to form a political-security work team comprised of Syrian, Jordanian and Iraqi officials. They would be tasked with determining the sources of drug production in Syria and the sides that are running the smuggling operations to Jordan and Iraq and taking the necessary measures to put a stop to the activity. Safadi telephoned Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Tuesday to brief him on Monday’s meeting. Aboul Gheit said he was looking forward to discussing the Syrian crisis during the organization’s upcoming meetings, said an Arab League statement. Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad is set to travel to Baghdad on Saturday at the invitation of his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein. Informed sources in Damascus said he will meet with President Abdul Latif Rashid, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi during his two-day visit, reported Syria’s Al-Watan newspaper.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

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BUKHARI VISITS BKERKI, MAKES NO STATEMENT ON EMERGING

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Walid Al-Bukhari, on Thursday met in Bkerki with Maronite Patriarch, Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi. It is to note that Bukhari made no statement on emerging.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

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First Kuwaiti planeload of relief supplies arrives in Sudan

The first planeload of Kuwaiti humanitarian supplies arrived in Port Sudan on Thursday signaling actual launch of Kuwait’s humanitarian bridge to relieve the Sudanese people.

The aircraft boarding ten tons of relief supplies, out of a total 75 tons of food and equipment due to be sent in from Kuwait, touched down at noon time.

Commander of the Red Sea military zone, Mohammad Hamad, praised in remarks to KUNA the State of Kuwait’s efforts and its support for the Sudanese nation, noting that the country has always scrambled to aid Sudanese at times of crises, latest of which was last September’s floods. He pledged to ensure delivery of the supplies.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador in Khartoum, Dr. Fahad Al-Dhafiri, told KUUNA that the first Kuwaiti plane arrived in Port Sudan amid local peoples’ greeting, adding that more planeloads of Kuwaiti aid would continue arriving until Monday to bring in a total of 75 tons of the medical and humanitarian materials.

Hospitals and medical centers in Sudan have been heavily damaged since flare-up of the crisis, he said, indicating a large part of the caches contained medical and pharmaceutical supplies.

These aid supplies are being sent in line with directions by the Kuwaiti political leadership to alleviate the Sudanese people’s suffering. He alluded in particular to the decision taken by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to dispatch the aid, along with close follow-up by Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah.

The Kuwaiti Cabinet in its latest session decided to establish the aerial humanitarian bridge to relieve the Sudanese people, with instructions given to Kuwait Red Crescent Society to cooperate with the ministries of health, finance and defense for dispatching the needed assistance immediately within a space of time not exceeding five days.

The planeload of Kuwaiti supplies was the first one to reach Sudan from Kuwait since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Army and paramilitary troops on April 15.

Source: Kuwait News Agency