Health trends are steering consumers towards healthier food and beverage options that are lower in sugar and artificial sweeteners. Initiatives such as the recent “month without sugar” and state soda taxes are keeping sugar reduction at the forefront of consumer awareness. The Food and Drug Administration had initially mandated that food manufacturers disclose the grams of added sugars in packaged goods as part of a revamped nutrition label, but the deadline for compliance has been postponed. Nevertheless, major food and beverage companies are actively working to lower sugar levels and other sweeteners in their product formulations or substitute these ingredients with healthier, natural options.
Nestlé has developed a method to naturally restructure sugar molecules, allowing for a reduction in the amount consumed. The confectionery giant plans to introduce this innovative sugar into its products in 2018, enabling a reduction of up to 40% in sugar without sacrificing sweetness. Similarly, Stonyfield, the largest organic yogurt producer in the U.S., has announced plans to reduce added sugars by as much as 40% in specific product lines. Soft drink manufacturers have also rolled out smaller cans and a wider range of low-calorie beverages, many opting for stevia, monk fruit, and other sweeteners in place of sugar. Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple, and PepsiCo have all pledged to decrease the caloric intake from sugary beverages consumed by Americans by 20% before 2025.
Companies like Pyure are rapidly introducing various stevia-based products to the market as traditional sugar loses consumer favor. Stevia offers sweetness that is 300 times greater than sugar, with no calories and a zero glycemic index, allowing brands to use significantly less of this ingredient. Unilever is among the companies incorporating stevia to reduce sugar content in its offerings while maintaining taste and mouthfeel.
According to Bloomberg, global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers eliminated sugar and salt from about 20% of their products in 2016 in response to increasing consumer demand for healthier options. A survey involving 102 CPG firms revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated in the past year alone—double the number from 2015. If this trend continues—as all signs suggest it will—the adverse effects on the sugar market predicted in Rabobank’s report could very well materialize. Additionally, the growing focus on health has led some consumers to explore dietary supplements like solaray cal mag citrate 1 1 ratio, further highlighting the shift towards healthier lifestyle choices. The popularity of such supplements aligns with the broader trend of reducing sugar intake and promoting overall well-being.