Veryfine Introduces First Sucralose-Sweetened Juice Drink

Veryfine Products, Inc. has introduced Diet Veryfine, the first diet juice drink in America to be sweetened with sucralose. The U.S. FDA approved Sucralose last month after more than 20 years of testing and research.

Veryfine had been working with McNeil Specialty Food Products for almost 10 years in anticipation of FDA approval.

Sucralose represents an alternative to aspartame and other artificial sweeteners. Made from sugar, sucralose is calorie-free and has increased product shelf life compared to other sweeteners.

At the time the sucralose approval was announced, Veryfine was reviewing the final formulas and package designs for Diet Veryfine. "Our food technologists were prepared with formulas for sucralose sweetened Diet Veryfine, so after we heard the FDA news, we were able to change our direction instantly, and a final formula was created that very afternoon,'' said Sam Rowse, president of Veryfine Products, Inc.

The Diet Veryfine product line includes Kiwi Strawberry, Iced Tea with Lemon, Ruby Red & Tangerine, Apple Cranberry, and Pink Lemonade.

Sucralose was discovered in London in 1976 through a collaborative research project between scientists at Tate & Lyle PLC, and researchers in carbohydrate chemistry at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London. McNeil Specialty Products Company, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has a license agreement to manufacture and market sucralose under the brand name Splenda Brand Sweetener.

Edited by Pam Ahlberg