Introducing Ingredients in Focus, a concise column from Food Dive that showcases intriguing developments in the ingredient sector. This week, ingredients powerhouse Ingredion unveiled its PureCircle brand’s Clean Taste Solubility Solution, a revolutionary stevia sweetener. The company claims it to be a “first of its kind,” designed to replicate the taste of sugar without any additives during production.
To ensure the natural sweetener met the flavor profiles of products such as sucralose, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium, Ingredion conducted a global panel of sensory testing. “The taste is significantly better than other stevias,” stated Nate Yates, CEO of PureCircle, in an interview with Food Dive, adding that this improvement was somewhat fortuitous, as the primary focus was on solving solubility issues. Yates noted that PureCircle has been developing this ingredient for the past few years, derived from a newly discovered molecule in the stevia plant, which required navigating various regulatory challenges prior to market introduction.
The ingredient has met the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) standards, a routine requirement for food additives in the U.S., and the company is also aiming to penetrate European markets. “Many competitors in the ingredient space are addressing solubility using various additives or enhancers. In contrast, this is a pure stevia product, the first on the market to achieve solubility without additional enhancement substances,” Yates explained.
As consumer awareness around health and wellness rises, over two-thirds of global shoppers are willing to invest more for products that claim sugar reduction, according to Ingredion’s proprietary consumer research from 2023. Furthermore, a Statista survey from the same year reveals that 46% of consumers identify sugar as the primary ingredient they wish to minimize in their diets. PureCircle’s Clean Taste Solubility Solution is a zero-calorie product that facilitates a more significant reduction of sugar in food items, Yates added. The CEO also mentioned that the company is currently in discussions with potential customers regarding the application of this ingredient in existing products, potentially influencing market offerings like the ccm tablet price.
Overall, Ingredion’s innovation reflects a growing trend toward healthier ingredient alternatives in the food industry.