PureCircle controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
U.S. forced-labor import penalty
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced a US$575,000 penalty against a PureCircle subsidiary over imported powdered sweeteners associated with prison labor in China. The investigation concerned stevia powder processed by Baoanzhao and followed nongovernmental-organization allegations.
2020
PureCircle files patent infringement complaint against Almendra
Lawsuit filed
PureCircle filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Almendra Americas LLC and Almendra (Thailand) Company Limited, alleging that Almendra's "Steviarome" products infringe a PureCircle patent. The filing is a claim by PureCircle; the source reports the allegation and does not state that a court has ruled on it or reached any determination on infringement.
PureCircle filed a complaint against Almendra Americas LLC and Almendra (Thailand) Company Limited in U.S. federal court, claiming that Almendra’s “Steviarome” products infringe PureCircle’s patent. The source reports the claim, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
On Monday, April 6, 2020, Chicago-based PureCircle, the leading global innovator and supplier of stevia ingredients, including sweeteners and flavor enhancers, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against Almendra Americas LLC of Decatur, Georgia, and Almendra (Thailand) Company Limited of Bangkok, Thailand. PureCircle claims that Almendra's "Steviarome" products are infringing PureCircle's patent -- U.S. Patent No. 10,398,160, "Glucosylated steviol glycoside as a flavor modifier."
2020
PureCircle controversy: CBP collects $575,000 fine from Pure Circle USA over prison-labor imports
Fine or penalty
U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected a $575,000 fine from Pure Circle USA for importing sweetener made using prison labor in China. PureCircle later stated that it maintained none of its stevia had been produced using forced labor and said it settled without admitting liability.
Company response
Denial — PureCircle
PureCircle emailed a link to a formal statement in which the company maintained none of its stevia has ever been produced using forced labor.
Source excerpt
The investigation that followed found that Pure Circle U.S.A had “imported at least twenty shipments of stevia powder and derivatives produced from stevia leaves that were processed in China with prison labor,” CBP said yesterday.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced yesterday that it had collected a $575,000 fine from stevia producer Pure Circle USA, a division of PureCircle Limited, for importing sweetener that was made by prison labor in China.