NutraSweet hails China crackdown on counterfeiters

SUGAR substitute maker NutraSweet Company commended steps taken by The General Office of China's State Council to crackdown on food additive counterfeiters in the country where the company is battling against the counterfeit production of neotame, its patented sweetener.

Commenting on the counterfeit versions of the sugar substitute flooding the Chinese market, NutraSweet CEO Craig R. Petray said, "Quite apart from the adverse effect the situation is having on our business in China," Petray said, "counterfeit neotame could pose a safety threat to consumers as there is no national product standard for locally produced neotame and thus no way of assuring proper manufacturing and handling of our patented additive."

Only neotame supplied by NutraSweet or its official Chinese sales distribution partners is guaranteed to have been produced in accordance with the highest quality and safety standards, Mr Petray said.

Neotame can be blended with sugar in many foods and beverages to yield lower ingredient costs for food and beverage makers and offer lower sugar content and reduced calories.