Stevia and Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola yesterday revealed that it was collaborating with Cargill, the privately-held US agricultural giant, to develop a rival zero-calorie sweetener derived from the plant stevia which is already widely used in Latin America and the Far East.

Last week, Coke filed 24 patent applications for the product, dubbed Rebiana.

The deal, which was signed two and a half years ago, will give Coke the exclusive rights to develop and sell Rebiana in beverages, while Cargill will secure the food rights.

A spokesman for the US drinks giant declined to say how much the companies were spending on the project, but said Coke had been exploring Stevia's potential as a sweetener for up to 12 years.

She said that the product itself and the production process would be “completely natural” – a big draw for increasingly health-conscious consumers.

The companies aim to market Stevia first in countries where the plant is already accepted such as Japan and Argentina, and Cargill seeks to help regulatory approval in the US by funding more scientific studies.

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