Sugar Reduction Challenges Solved With the Launch of GLG's Go-Zero(TM) Solutions

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 1, 2016) -

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GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX:GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company"), a global leader in the agricultural and commercial development of high-quality, zero-calorie, natural sweeteners, is pleased to announce the launch of GoZero™ Solutions. This innovative portfolio provides GLG's customers with unparalleled natural and Non-GMO zero-calorie sweetener options and proprietary formulations tailored to our customers' specific calorie reduction needs.

The challenges to global food and beverage companies are well documented with respect to the need for reduced amounts of sugar in formulations. The global per capita sugar consumption peaked in the late 1990's; however, it has been declining ever since due to an increase in health awareness and prevalence of diet-related health conditions, such as diabetes. Moreover, government regulations and guidelines, such as sugar taxes in the US and Mexico, and new dietary guidelines limiting the amount of added sugar in foods have made it challenging for food and beverage manufacturers to continue to use the same amounts of sugar in their formulations as they have used in the past. Add to this challenge, consumers' willingness to consume artificial sweeteners has been declining due to a general mistrust in synthetic chemical compounds.

In fact, consumers are increasingly looking to incorporate natural, plant-based ingredients in their diets. The movement of the market toward zero-calorie, natural sweeteners has placed immense pressure on marketing, R&D and procurement teams to reformulate to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in their products.

However, the transition to stevia as a natural zero calorie sweetener has proved challenging due to its known aftertaste issues such as astringency and bitterness. Things are about to change for the better. GLG is pleased to introduce its newest product line to global food and beverage companies - GoZero™ Solutions to address all these challenges with going zero.

GLG's GoZero™ Solutions offer:

1. Largest portfolio containing the most complete set of zero-calorie, natural sweeteners including stevia, enzymatically modified stevia, monk fruit and bitter blockers.
2. Better tasting stevia and monk fruit with ClearTaste™ natural bitter blocker.
3. Custom formulations for customers
4. Fast prototyping of reduced or zero calorie formulations for R&D groups.
5. Superior taste and flavor profile tailored to specific food matrices
6. Fast response and support from our experienced support team
7. Cost effective solutions
8. Clean labels
9. Reduction in use of sugar while maintaining taste
10. Removal of artificial sweeteners from the formulation
11. Halal, Kosher, Non-GMO, and natural solutions.
12. Organic and conventional format

Brian Meadows, President and CFO of GLG, highlights GoZero Solutions™ breakthrough, "GLG has worked for many years with food and beverage companies and understands the importance of innovative solutions for our customers. Everyone wants to enjoy the benefits of stevia; however, it has not been an easy path so far. We have also learned that one solution does not fit all product formulations and a portfolio that addresses this real issue for R&D Departments is required. With the design of our new GoZero™ Solutions product line we have developed a portfolio that works. We now have an extensive portfolio and formulation library that can be accessed to meet every formulation challenge that a company faces. We also have the resources to support a customer in their product development process to shorten the timeframe and offer the benefits of our experience. It is exciting to see the satisfaction of our customers as we work with them to offer a wide variety of natural solutions that meet their calorie reduction and taste profile objectives and overcome the challenges of each individual market."

GoZero™ Solutions is the result of over 15 years' hard work of more than 60 agricultural scientists, product innovation and food application specialists, and food engineers. This concerted effort has allowed us to formulate a diverse product portfolio applicable to a wide range of food, beverage, and dietary supplement products that are cost-effective and superior in taste, flavor, and quality.

About GLG Life Tech Corporation

GLG Life Tech Corporation is a global leader in the supply of high-purity zero calorie natural sweeteners including stevia and monk fruit extracts used in food and beverages. GLG's vertically integrated operations, which incorporate our Fairness to Farmers program and emphasize sustainability throughout, cover each step in the stevia and monk fruit supply chains including non-GMO seed and seedling breeding, natural propagation, growth and harvest, proprietary extraction and refining, marketing and distribution of the finished products. Additionally, to further meet the varied needs of the food and beverage industry, GLG has launched its Naturals+ product line, enabling it to supply a host of complementary ingredients reliably sourced through its supplier network in China. For further information, please visit www.glglifetech.com.

Forward-looking statements: This press release may contain certain information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or words and phrases that state or indicate that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

While the Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations about future events, the statements are not guarantees of the Company's future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include amongst others the effects of general economic conditions, consumer demand for our products and new orders from our customers and distributors, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations, industry supply levels, competitive pricing pressures and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2014. In light of these factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur.

Further, although the Company has attempted to identify factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

As there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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