Cargill Food & Pharma Specialties (FPS) ran test runs at the plant in Blair, Nebraska last year and this week announced that the $60 million facility is now fully operational.
"In recent years, interest in erythritol has risen as food manufacturers seek to address the changing diet and nutrition needs of consumers," said R. Creager Simpson, president of Cargill FPS North America.
Cargill claims that its erythritol is the only natural, non-caloric (maximum 0.2 kcal/gram) bulk sweetener with a taste similar to sugar. It also has the highest digestive tolerance of any polyol.
Cargill is stepping up worldwide marketing and promotional activities for its Eridex brand erythritol, which can be used in diet drinks, non-caloric tabletop sweeteners, low-carbohydrate sweet goods, sugar-free and reduced calorie chocolate, and confectionary and bakery items.
Erythritol is also non-cariogenic, and therefore safe for teeth.
The new facility, part of Cargill's corn milling and biorefinery complex in Blair, employs about 50 people. It is the only erythritol production site in the Western Hemisphere and one of only two in the world. The plant was originally constructed to support a joint venture between Cargill and Mitsubishi Chemical. Cargill purchased Mitsubishi's interest in the JV in June 2002.