Abstract
There are currently worldwide efforts to reduce sugar intake due to the various adverse health effects linked with the overconsumption of sugars. Artificial sweeteners have been used as an alternative to nutritive sugars in numerous applications; however, their long-term effects on human health remain controversial. This led to a shift in consumer preference towards non-caloric sweeteners from natural sources. Thaumatins are a class of intensely sweet proteins found in arils of the fruits of the West-African plant Thaumatococcus daniellii. Thaumatins’ current production method through aqueous extraction from this plant and uncertainty of the harvest from tropical rainforests limits its supply while the demand is increasing. Despite successful recombinant expression of the protein in several organisms, no large-scale bioproduction facilities exist. We present preliminary process design, process simulation, and economic analysis for a large-scale (50 metric tons/year) production of a thaumatin II variant using several different molecular farming platforms.
Highlights
The overconsumption of nutritive sugars continues to be a major dietary problem in different parts of the world
It is assumed that the facility is located in a suitable climate where the growth of N. tabacum is attainable throughout the year, ignoring variations in production between batches
Our analysis indicates a relatively high cost of goods (COGS) range for a sugar substitute, there are unrealized costs savings from thaumatin use due to its unique sweetness intensity
Summary
The overconsumption of nutritive (caloric) sugars continues to be a major dietary problem in different parts of the world. A recent report indicates than an average American consumes about 17 teaspoons of added sugar daily, which is nearly twice the amounts of the 6 and 9 teaspoons, recommended for women and men, respectively [1]. This dietary behavior is linked to various adverse health effects such as increased risk of diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases [2]. Serving sizes have been updated to reflect what people currently eat and drink [9] The expansion of these efforts to spread the awareness on sugar consumption habits and the resulting health issues has generated demand for safe, nonnutritive (low/zero calorie) sugar substitutes. There are many sweeteners on the market to help consumers satisfy their desire for sweetness; each of the sweeteners available to consumers has specific applications and certain limitations [10]
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