SUGAR-FREE NATURALLY PRESERVED STEVIA SUPPLEMENT
A stevia supplement that is preserved with natural ingredients (e.g., natural vinegar, polyene macrolide, such as natamycin, and/or citric acid) optionally having a balanced smell and/or flavor profile is provided.
1 . An improved stevia supplement composition comprising:
stevia;
water; and
an effective amount of a polyene macrolide selected from the group consisting of natamycin, amphotericin B, nystatin, and filipin.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the stevia supplement composition has a minimum shelf life of at least 2 years.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyene macrolide selected from the group consisting of natamycin, amphotericin B, nystatin, and filipin provides a preservative action against each of microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger so that a level of each of these microbial species individually is below an acceptable safe level for human consumption when measured according to United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing, at 28 days post exposure to these microbial species occurring via inoculum(s) of
Staphylococcus Aureus
7,000,000
cfu/g;
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
49,000,000
cfu/g;
Escheria Coli
26,500,000
cfu/g;
Yeast - Candida Albicans
4,000,000
cfu/g; and
Mold - Aspergillus Niger
650,000
cfu/g
applied in accordance with procedures United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing for naturally preserving the stevia supplement composition.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an effective amount of vinegar.
5 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein vinegar is present in an amount to provide a preservative action against each of microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger so that a level of each of these microbial species individually is below an acceptable safe level for human consumption when measured according to United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing, at 28 days post exposure to these microbial species occurring via inoculum(s) of
Staphylococcus Aureus
7,000,000
cfu/g;
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
49,000,000
cfu/g;
Escheria Coli
26,500,000
cfu/g;
Yeast - Candida Albicans
4,000,000
cfu/g; and
Mold - Aspergillus Niger
650,000
cfu/g
applied in accordance with procedures United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing; and
wherein the composition further comprises, optionally, water-soluble natural additive(s) selected from the group consisting of vitamins, anti-oxidants, teas, green tea, glucosamine and combinations thereof, and citric acid.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is provided in a liquid form.
7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the stevia is provided in an amount from about 15% to about 20% by weight of stevia based on a total weight of the composition.
8 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein the vinegar is provided in an amount from about 0.05% to about 10% by weight vinegar based on the total weight of the composition.
9 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the vinegar is provided in an amount from about 2.5% to about 10% vinegar based on the total weight of the composition.
10 . The composition of claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 0.2% citric acid based on the total weight of the composition.
11 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the composition is odorless in comparison to a composition containing an equivalent amount of acetic acid in place of the vinegar.
12 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the smell of stevia is not detectable.
13 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein the preservative action of vinegar is at least equivalent to a preservative action of an equivalent acidic amount of sorbic acid against each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing at 28 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species.
14 . The composition of claim 13 , wherein the preservative action of the vinegar is sufficient to result in a measured cfu/g level for each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger to ≦10 cfu/g, to ≦9 cfu/g, to ≦8 cfu/g, to ≦7 cfu/g or lower at 14 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing.
15 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein the preservative action of the vinegar is sufficient to result in the measured cfu/g level for each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger to ≦6 cfu/g, to ≦5 cfu/g, to ≦4 cfu/g, to ≦3 cfu/g or lower at 28 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing.
16 . The composition of claim 10 , wherein the vinegar and the citric acid together provide a preservative action to result in a measured cfu/g level for each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger to ≦10 cfu/g, to ≦9 cfu/g, to ≦8 cfu/g, to ≦7 cfu/g or lower at 14 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing.
17 . The composition of claim 16 , wherein the vinegar and the citric acid together provide the preservative action to result in the measured cfu/g level for each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger to ≦6 cfu/g, to ≦5 cfu/g, to ≦4 cfu/g, to ≦3 cfu/g or lower at 28 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing.
18 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising any water-soluble vitamin selected from vitamins other than vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin A.
19 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising vitamin C.
20 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-oxidant that is water soluble.
21 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising a water-soluble tea.
22 . The composition of claim 21 , wherein the tea is green tea.
23 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises citric acid, wherein the citric acid is an extract from citrus, grapefruit, pineapple, lemons, limes, or any part of any fruit or plant that contains vitamin C suitable for safe human ingestion.
24 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water is de-ionized water or distilled water and further comprises a chelating agent to chelate Ca ions or Zn ions or both.
25 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is free of synthetic ingredients.
26 . The composition of claim 24 , wherein the composition is free of synthetic ingredients.
27 . The composition of claim 1 , further comprising glucosamine.
28 . The composition of claim 1 , excluding synthetic preservatives.
29 . The composition of claim 1 , excluding tartaric acid.
30 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyene macrolide is natamycin; and wherein natamycin is provided in an amount from about 0.01% to about 4% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
31 . The composition of claim 30 , wherein the composition further comprises an effective amount of vinegar, wherein the preservative action of natamycin and vinegar combination is at least equivalent to a preservative action of an equivalent acidic amount of sorbic acid against each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing at 28 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species.
32 . The composition of claim 31 , wherein the preservative action of the natamycin and vinegar combination is sufficient to result in a measured cfu/g level for each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger to ≦10 cfu/g, to ≦9 cfu/g, to ≦8 cfu/g, to ≦7 cfu/g or lower at 14 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing.
33 . The composition of claim 32 , wherein the preservative action of the natamycin and vinegar combination is sufficient to result in the measured cfu/g level for each of the microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger to ≦6 cfu/g, to ≦5 cfu/g, to ≦4 cfu/g, to ≦3 cfu/g or lower at 28 days post exposure to the inoculum(s) of the microbial species when measured according to the United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing.
34 . An improved stevia supplement composition comprising:
stevia;
water;
an effective amount of vinegar; and
an effective amount of a polyene macrolide selected from the group consisting of natamycin, amphotericin B, nystatin, and filipin.
35 . The composition of claim 34 , wherein the effective amount of vinegar provides a preservative action against each of microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger so that a level of each of these microbial species individually is below an acceptable safe level for human consumption when measured according to United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing, at 28 days post exposure to these microbial species occurring via inoculum(s) of
Staphylococcus Aureus
7,000,000
cfu/g;
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
49,000,000
cfu/g;
Escheria Coli
26,500,000
cfu/g;
Yeast - Candida Albicans
4,000,000
cfu/g; and
Mold - Aspergillus Niger
650,000
cfu/g
applied in accordance with procedures United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing; and
an effective amount of a polyene macrolide selected from the group consisting of natamycin, amphotericin B, nystatin, and filipin to provide a preservative action against each of microbial species Staphylococcus Aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Escherichia Coli, Yeast: Candida Albicans, and Mold: Aspergillus Niger so that a level of each of these microbial species individually is below an acceptable safe level for human consumption when measured according to United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing, at 28 days post exposure to these microbial species occurring via inoculum(s) of
Staphylococcus Aureus
7,000,000
cfu/g;
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
49,000,000
cfu/g;
Escheria Coli
26,500,000
cfu/g;
Yeast - Candida Albicans
4,000,000
cfu/g; and
Mold - Aspergillus Niger
650,000
cfu/g
applied in accordance with procedures United States Pharmacopeia general (USP) Chapter 51, Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing for naturally preserving the stevia supplement composition; and
wherein the stevia supplement composition has a minimum shelf life of at least 2 years.
36 . An improved stevia supplement composition comprising:
stevia;
water;
an effective amount of vinegar;
an effective amount of citric acid; and
an effective amount of a polyene macrolide selected from the group consisting of amphotericin B, nystatin, natamycin, and filipin.
37 . The composition of claim 36 , wherein the composition further comprises: a water soluble natural additive and polylysine.
38 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises: polylysine.
39 . The composition of claim 38 , wherein polylysine is present in an amount from about 0.05% to about 5% based on a final total weight of the stevia supplement.
40 . The composition of claim 34 , wherein the composition further comprises: polylysine.
41 . The composition of claim 40 , wherein polylysine is present in an amount from about 0.05% to about 5% based on a final total weight of the stevia supplement.