Manufacturers today are primarily focused on reducing sugar content in food and beverages. As consumers increasingly gravitate towards healthier options and demand clean, transparent labeling, the updated Nutrition Facts panel—which has been postponed until January 1, 2020, for large manufacturers—will require a specific line item for added sugars. While consumers express a desire for this information, they may not always check it.
This shift in consumer preference has led to a variety of sugar-reduction innovations, including artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners, hollow and rapidly dissolving sugar molecules, and flavor enhancers. Ingredion emphasizes that depending on which of its low-sugar glucose syrups is utilized, the ingredient may be labeled as glucose syrup, corn syrup, or tapioca syrup—a distinction that could significantly impact consumer perception. Corn syrup, for instance, has fallen out of favor in recent years due to its negative health image, prompting some manufacturers to replace it with real sugar.
Kerry has developed a product called TasteSense, which reportedly restores the sweetness and mouthfeel lost when sugar is reduced, and can be labeled as a natural flavoring. Leigh Ann Vaughn, the company’s marketing director, explained to Food Ingredients First that food and beverage manufacturers often believe that cutting sugar means sacrificing taste and functionality. “Sugar doesn’t just contribute sweetness; it plays a complex role in providing texture and the overall mouthfeel that consumers enjoy,” Vaughn stated. “Many available solutions do not fully replicate the lost taste and mouthfeel of sugar, and they often introduce undesirable off-notes and aftertastes.”
Food and beverage manufacturers are striving to eliminate added sugar from their labels. The challenge lies in reformulating products to maintain their sweet flavor while lowering actual sugar content. This balancing act may be supported by innovative products, but ultimately, it is consumers who will determine the success of these efforts. In the quest for healthier options, consumers might also be interested in the best calcium citrate tablets in India, as they seek to enhance their overall well-being while navigating sugar reduction in their diets. As the market evolves, the connection between sugar content and health will continue to shape consumer choices.