The Food Additives, Food Flavourings, and Novel Foods (Authorisations) and Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2023

3.  In the appropriate place, insert the following entry—

E 960c REBAUDIOSIDE M PRODUCED VIA ENZYME MODIFICATION OF STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES FROM STEVIA

Synonyms
Definition

Rebaudioside M is a steviol glycoside composed predominantly of rebaudioside M with minor amounts of other steviol glycosides such as rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside I, and stevioside.

Rebaudioside M is obtained via enzymatic bioconversion of purified steviol glycoside leaf extracts (95% steviol glycosides) of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant using UDP-glucosyltransferase and sucrose synthase enzymes produced by the genetically modified yeasts K. phaffi (formerly known as Pichia pastoris) UGT-a and K. phaffi UGT-b that facilitate the transfer of glucose from sucrose and UDP-glucose to steviol glycosides via glycosidic bonds.

After removal of the enzymes by solid-liquid separation and heat treatment, the purification involves concentration of the rebaudioside M by resin adsorption, followed by recrystallisation of rebaudioside M resulting in a final product containing not less than 95% of rebaudioside M. Viable cells or the DNA of the yeasts K. phaffi UGT-a or K. phaffi UGT-b must not be detected in the food additive.

Chemical nameRebaudioside M: 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]kaur-16-en-18-oic acid, 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester
Molecular formulaTrivial nameFormulaConversion factor
Rebaudioside MC56 H90 O330.25
Molecular weight and CAS numberTrivial nameCAS NumberMolecular weight (g/mol)
Rebaudioside M1220616-44-31291.29
AssayNot less than 95% rebaudioside M on the dried basis
DescriptionWhite to light yellow powder, approximately between 200 and 350 times sweeter than sucrose (at 5% sucrose equivalency)
Identification
SolubilityFreely soluble to slightly soluble in water
pHBetween 4.5 and 7.0 (1 in 100 solution)
Purity
Total ashNot more than 1%
Loss on dryingNot more than 6% (105°C, 2h)
Residual solventNot more than 5000 mg/kg ethanol
ArsenicNot more than 0.015 mg/kg
LeadNot more than 0.2 mg/kg
CadmiumNot more than 0.015 mg/kg
MercuryNot more than 0.07 mg/kg
Residual proteinNot more than 5 mg/kg
Particle sizeNot less than 74 μm (using a mesh #200 sieve with a particle size limit of 74 μm)