Health trends are increasingly steering consumers towards healthier food and beverage choices that are lower in sugar and artificial sweeteners. Initiatives such as the recent “month without sugar” campaign and state-imposed soda taxes keep the focus on sugar reduction among consumers. The Food and Drug Administration had initially mandated food manufacturers to indicate the amount of added sugars in packaged products through a revised nutrition facts label, although the deadline for this requirement has been postponed. Nevertheless, major food and beverage companies are actively working to lower sugar levels and replace sweeteners with healthier, more natural alternatives.
Nestlé has developed a method to naturally restructure sugar molecules, which allows for a reduction in the amount consumed. The confectionery giant plans to incorporate this new sugar into its products in 2018, enabling a decrease of up to 40% in sugar content without sacrificing sweetness. Stonyfield, the leading organic yogurt producer in the U.S., recently announced plans to cut added sugars by as much as 40% in certain product lines.
Soda manufacturers have also responded by introducing smaller can sizes and a greater variety of low-calorie drinks, many opting for stevia, monk fruit, and other non-sugar sweeteners. Companies like Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple, and PepsiCo have pledged to reduce the calorie content from sugary beverages consumed by Americans by 20% by 2025. Manufacturers such as Pyure have swiftly brought various stevia-based products to market as sugar continues to lose favor with consumers. Stevia naturally provides sweetness that is 300 times that of sugar, with no calories and a zero glycemic index, allowing brands to use significantly less of this ingredient. Unilever is also incorporating stevia to lower sugar levels in its products while maintaining taste and mouthfeel.
According to Bloomberg, global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers reduced sugar and salt in approximately 20% of their products in 2016, reflecting the increasing consumer demand for healthier options. A survey of 102 CPG companies revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated last year alone, which is double the number from 2015. If this trend continues—and all signs suggest it will—the negative impact on the sugar market anticipated in Rabobank’s report may very well come to pass.
In this evolving landscape, the benefits of incorporating ingredients like GNC calcium citrate are also gaining attention, as consumers seek out products that contribute positively to their health. These benefits are becoming an essential part of many reformulated products, aligning with the broader trend towards health-conscious choices. As awareness of these advantages grows, brands may increasingly highlight various health benefits, including those associated with GNC calcium citrate, to appeal to the modern consumer’s desire for healthier, better-for-you options.