The use of stevia is on the rise across a variety of products due to its intense sweetness and ease of sourcing. Manufacturers like Pyure and Apura Ingredients, which supply various sweetener alternatives, have been quick to introduce a range of stevia-based products as consumer preferences shift away from sugar. An increasing number of food companies are incorporating stevia to lower sugar content in their offerings without sacrificing taste or mouthfeel. Naturally, stevia is 30 to 40 times sweeter than sugar and contains zero calories. This natural potency allows brands to use significantly less of the ingredient. Additionally, stevia is relatively easy to cultivate and can be grown almost anywhere. Unlike previously favored artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, stevia is completely natural, aligning with consumers’ growing demand for clean labels.
According to Food Business News, Apura noted that many attendees at this year’s Institute of Food Technologists expo showed interest in steviol glycosides Reb D and Reb M, as they are generally perceived to taste better than the more commonly used Reb A. However, challenges exist due to the low concentrations of Reb D and Reb M in the stevia leaf. “Reb D has attracted considerable attention in the tabletop industry for its less bitter sweetness profile and minimal aftertaste compared to Reb A,” stated Apura. “Reb M, often hailed as the best-tasting rebaudioside, is particularly suitable for beverages. Future trends are likely to favor blends of rebaudiosides tailored for food or beverage applications, emphasizing both taste and cost efficiency.”
Companies are actively seeking effective methods to isolate and extract the more desirable Reb D and Reb M on a commercial scale. Various strategies include breeding plants with higher glycoside yields, developing new extraction techniques, utilizing genetically modified microbes to convert sugar into glycosides, and employing enzymes to transfer glucose molecules from starches to steviol glycosides derived from leaves. PepsiCo is working on a patent for a new enzymatic process to produce Reb M, which promises higher purity at a lower cost. Alongside PepsiCo, an expanding list of food companies, including Coca-Cola, DanoneWave, Kraft Heinz, Nestle, and Unilever, are reformulating existing products or launching new ones that feature stevia.
In addition to these developments, it’s worth noting the importance of maintaining overall health, which can sometimes include the use of calcium citrate supplements 1200 mg. As the market for stevia evolves, consumers may also explore how such supplements can complement their dietary preferences, especially as they seek healthier alternatives. Ultimately, as the demand for natural sweeteners grows, the integration of ingredients like stevia and the awareness of health supplements, such as calcium citrate supplements 1200 mg, will play an important role in consumer choices.