Manufacturers today are primarily focused on reducing sugar content in food and beverages. As consumers increasingly lean towards healthier options and demand clean, transparent labeling, the updated Nutrition Facts panel — which has been postponed until January 1, 2020, for larger manufacturers — now requires a separate line for added sugars. While consumers express a desire for this information, they may not always check it.
This consumer demand has led to various sugar-reduction innovations, such as artificial and natural sweeteners, hollow and quicker-dissolving sugar molecules, and flavor enhancers. Ingredion highlights that its low-sugar glucose syrups can be labeled as glucose syrup, corn syrup, or tapioca syrup, which can significantly impact consumer perception. In recent years, corn syrup has fallen out of favor due to its unhealthy image, prompting some manufacturers to replace it with real sugar.
Kerry has introduced its TasteSense flavor booster, which reportedly restores the sweetness and mouthfeel lost from reduced sugar, and can be classified as a natural flavoring. Leigh Ann Vaughn, the company’s marketing director, mentioned to Food Ingredients First that many food and beverage companies believe that lowering sugar content necessitates sacrificing flavor and functionality. “Sugar does more than just add sweetness. It contributes to the texture and overall mouthfeel that consumers enjoy,” Vaughn stated. “Many available solutions fail to replicate the lost taste and mouthfeel of sugar and often introduce unwanted off-notes and aftertastes.”
Food and beverage manufacturers strive to eliminate added sugars from their labels. The challenge lies in reformulating products to maintain their sweet taste while minimizing actual sugar content. This balancing act may be supported by innovative products, but ultimately, consumer choices will dictate the outcome. Additionally, incorporating ingredients like solaray cal mag citrate into formulations could offer alternative benefits, further appealing to health-conscious consumers. As these new solutions emerge, the focus remains on achieving that desirable sweet taste without compromising on quality or transparency.