Thaumatin is a low-calorie protein sweetener and flavor modifier extracted from Katemfe, the fruit of the West African plant Thaumatococcus daniellii, and is totally natural with an intense sweetness. The protein is used primarily for its flavor-modifying properties and not exclusively as a sweetener. Thaumatin is cultivated in the rainforests of West Africa. It is an odorless, water soluble protein which possesses high heat stability Thaumatin I and Thaumatin II are the two main forms of protein present in the Katemfe plant. It is extensively used as a flavor enhancer instead of a sweetener and it does not contribute to major calories in the diet.
Moreover, thaumatin is widely used in coffee products, chewing gums, fruit juices, soft drinks, milk powder, desserts, and baked and savory foods, others. In the United States, thaumatin is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use as a sweetener and flavor modifier in various food products. Furthermore, the European Food Safety Authority has approved Thaumatin as a sweetener. It may be used in several food categories, either as a sweetener (is approximately 2000 to 3000 times sweeter than sucrose) or as flavor enhancer.
Thaumatin also has the same energetic values but it is an astonishing 2,000 sweeter than regular sugar, even 7 times sweeter than Stevia, making it the most potent natural sweetener. Similar to Stevia, Katemfe plants have been used by the locals for a long time; they use its leaves for wrapping food and its fruits for sweetening breads, palm wine, and sour food. Thaumatin has been shown to have no adverse effects when consumed by humans. It actually has been used for centuries by natives of that geographical area to sweeten food.
Only tiny amounts are ingested and the body is able to metabolize like any other protein. There are no known concerns around Thaumatin. Thaumatin has been in the market for over 30 years and is approved by various regulatory authorities across the world.
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