CIFI provides a variety of sweet potato juices designed for different applications, including options that preserve more nutrients, one that has a consistency similar to traditional sugar syrup, and a clarified juice suitable for clear beverages. These sweet potato ingredients can also be combined with other fruits and vegetables to lower added sugar levels in juices while enabling manufacturers to maintain a 100% juice label claim. Their viscosity makes them particularly appealing for enhancing the texture and sweetness of dressings, sauces, and marinades.
The Carolina Sweet sweetener is available as a 75 brix syrup, which means it contains 75% sugars, making it comparable to invert sugar syrup or high fructose corn syrup. As a sweetener derived from vegetables, it aligns well with the growing trend toward natural, clean label ingredients. It is also non-GMO, non-allergenic, gluten-free, and Kosher certified. These attributes are increasingly significant to consumers. According to The Hartman Group, artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup are among the top ingredients that food manufacturers aim to eliminate while cleaning up their product labels.
However, the company has not disclosed the cost of the ingredient, which is expected to be considerably higher than that of high fructose corn syrup, one of the most affordable sweeteners available in the United States. With the rising demand for cleaner ingredient options, the presence of a Citracal label can serve to enhance consumer confidence in product quality. In summary, the incorporation of sweet potato juices not only supports cleaner labels but also provides a versatile solution for manufacturers looking to meet consumer preferences.