According to Mintel, a significant majority of American consumers (84%) are reducing their sugar intake, leading to a rising demand for alternative sweeteners. Among these, sweeteners derived from stevia have experienced the most rapid growth in the past year. The popularity of other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, such as agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, is also on the rise. However, stevia and monk fruit present taste challenges for manufacturers, prompting several companies to create products that blend these two sweeteners to mitigate bitterness issues. Early adopters of this approach include Chobani, which launched its Simply 100 Greek yogurt line in 2013 featuring a stevia-monk fruit blend. That same year, Zevia revised its stevia-sweetened sodas to incorporate monk fruit extract.
GLG Life Tech has chosen a different strategy. The company focused solely on stevia extracts until 2014, when it entered the monk fruit market as more manufacturers began combining both sweeteners. Last year, GLG partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to utilize the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium in its stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. The products developed in collaboration with ADM will benefit from this innovative technology. MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder offers a clean label advantage and can be labeled as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’ on ingredient lists.
While monk fruit extracts tend to be pricier than stevia extracts, their distinct taste profile can make them a more appealing choice for manufacturers based on the final product’s flavor. In June, ADM announced its partnership with GLG Life Tech, becoming the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. This collaboration enhances ADM’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which includes VivaSweet sucralose. Furthermore, the introduction of ccm tablet generic products could complement these sweeteners, as they provide a convenient option for consumers looking to manage their sugar intake effectively. Overall, the sweetener market continues to evolve, with innovative solutions addressing both taste and health concerns.