Sweegen has achieved a significant regulatory advancement for its latest sweet protein offering.
The sweetener innovation company, located in California, announced that its Ultratia Brazzein has obtained a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) No Questions Letter from the US Food and Drug Administration, enabling its broader incorporation into various food and beverage products. The announcement was made on June 25, 2026.
A unique protein, now made accessible at scale
Originally extracted from the fruit of the West African climbing plant, oubli, Brazzein is a rare sweet protein celebrated for its exceptional sweetness level, clean taste profile, and ability to assist in sugar reduction.
Historically, however, the challenge has been with supply, as achieving commercial-scale production has proven quite difficult. Sweegen claims it has addressed this issue by employing a proprietary precision fermentation process to produce Ultratia Brazzein, creating a sustainable, scalable, and high-purity sweet protein ingredient.
Synergistic potential
Initial feedback from customers has focused on how well the ingredient integrates within formulations. Shari Mahon, Chief Commercial Officer, remarked that Sweegen’s product development teams have identified significant compatibility between Ultratia Brazzein and the company’s Signature Stevia systems.
This synergy can be attributed to the biology of sweet proteins like Brazzein, which interact favorably with various taste receptors on the tongue, particularly the T1R3 receptor associated with sweetness and umami perception. According to Sweegen, Ultratia Brazzein allows product developers to decrease sugar content while maintaining the sweetness quality, flavor profile, and overall taste experience that consumers desire.
Establishing a strong foundation
This marks not the first GRAS clearance for Sweegen. The FDA has previously recognized the GRAS status of the company’s other nature-derived sweeteners, such as Reb M and Reb D. Hadi Omrani, Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, described the clearance for Brazzein as confirmation of Sweegen’s overarching sweet-protein strategy, stating that the FDA’s GRAS No Questions designation affirms the safety of Brazzein as a high-intensity sweetener that enables customers to explore innovative low- and no-calorie sweetener systems.
With the introduction of Brazzein to a portfolio that already boasts Bestevia Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, along with the sweet protein thaumatin, Sweegen is positioning itself as a comprehensive solution provider for formulators aiming for sugar reduction without compromising on flavor. One can anticipate the emergence of Brazzein-stevia blends in reformulation proposals shortly.