Tate & Lyle extends US sucralose lawsuit

Tate & Lyle has filed an amended complaint to its lawsuit alleging patent infringements against its high intensity sweetener Splenda sucralose.

The amended lawsuit, against Hebei Sukerui Science and Technology, plus six importers of sucralose into the US, now includes an additional three importers: Maypro Industries, Vivion and Premium Ingredients, as well as some new trademark infringement counts against Premium Ingredients.

Hebei Sukerui Science and Technology is one of a number of companies that has recently entered the lucrative sucralose market, which is dominated by Splenda.

Despite Tate & Lyle’s claim that rivals are only producing sucralose on a “laboratory scale”, Hebei Sukerui claims it will have the capacity to produce 700t of the sweetener annually by October.

Tate & Lyle’s profit from sucralose soared 48% to £68M on sales up 23% to £142M in the year to March 31, 2006.