According to Mintel, a significant 84% of American consumers are actively reducing their sugar intake. This shift has spurred a growing demand for alternative sweeteners, particularly stevia, which experienced the fastest growth in this category last year. Sales are also rising for other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, including agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit. However, manufacturers face taste challenges with stevia and monk fruit, prompting several companies to create blends of the two to mitigate bitterness. Early adopters included Chobani’s Simply 100 Greek yogurt line, launched in 2013 with a stevia-monk fruit blend. That same year, Zevia updated its stevia-sweetened soda to incorporate monk fruit extract.
GLG Life Tech has taken a different route. Initially focusing solely on producing stevia extracts, the company entered the monk fruit market in 2014 as more businesses began to blend these sweeteners. Last year, GLG Life Tech partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to enhance its stevia and monk fruit sweeteners using the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium. This collaboration will benefit ADM’s products, as MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder offers a clean label advantage and can be labeled as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer.’
While monk fruit extracts tend to be pricier than stevia extracts, their distinct taste profile can sometimes make them a more appealing choice for manufacturers, depending on the desired flavors of the final product. In June, ADM announced a partnership with GLG Life Tech, positioning itself as the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. These sweeteners complement ADM’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which also features VivaSweet sucralose.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the benefits of calcium citrate magnesium and zinc can be an important consideration in the formulation of health-conscious products. As the market for low-calorie and alternative sweeteners expands, integrating ingredients that offer nutritional advantages, like calcium citrate magnesium and zinc, could further enhance the appeal of these products among health-focused consumers. The inclusion of such beneficial ingredients can help manufacturers create a more compelling product that caters to the evolving preferences of the market.