At the Board meeting of the International Sweeteners Association on 27th June, Mr Hugues Pitre, Senior Vice President, Managing Director EAME at Merisant, was elected as the new ISA Chairman. Hugues Pitre joined Merisant in 2002 and was appointed Senior Vice President, Managing Director EAME in March 2012. Mr Stefan Ronsmans, EU Scientific & Regulatory Affairs – Food Safety Director at Coca-Cola Europe, was elected as ISA Vice-Chairman.
Mr Pitre commented: “I would like to thank the ISA Board for their confidence in appointing me. We have seen an increasing interest in sweeteners in Europe in recent months and it is clear that there is a lot of misinformation out there. I am convinced that the ambitious communications programme that the ISA now has in place will ensure the success of ISA’s mission to increase public understanding of the role and benefits of low calorie sweeteners; particularly in helping consumers to manage their weight at a time where obesity and obesity-related diseases are on the rise.“
Mr Pitre succeeds Mr Hans Heezen (Ajinomoto Sweeteners Europe), who was Chairman of the ISA for 5 years and set the momentum for an effective communications programme for the association.
Low calorie sweeteners are the only means of giving food a sweet taste without increasing the calorie content. Foods and beverages sweetened with low calorie sweeteners also offer people with diabetes broader food choices and contribute to dental health.
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is a non-profit making organisation representing European manufacturers and users of low calorie sweeteners. The ISA informs and educates on the most up-to-date nutritional and scientific information in relation to the role and benefits of low calorie sweeteners, and the foods and beverages that contain them.