PureCircle warns on H1 profit as U.S. shipment seizure bites

(Reuters) - Sweetener maker PureCircle Ltd said the detainment of shipments of its low-calorie sweetener stevia in the U.S. would lead to a 14 percent drop in first-half group sales. In June, U.S. Customs had seized shipments of stevia extracts brought into the country by PureCircle from China after it obtained information that they are produced by convict labour. The company said it expects group gross profit for the first half to fall 19 percent to $18 million and a $5 million drop in core ear