Health trends are increasingly steering consumers towards healthier food and beverage options that are lower in sugar and artificial sweeteners. Campaigns such as the recent “month without sugar” and various state soda taxes are keeping sugar reduction at the forefront of consumer awareness. Although the Food and Drug Administration initially mandated that food manufacturers disclose the grams of added sugars in packaged goods on revamped nutrition labels, this deadline has been postponed. Nevertheless, major food and beverage companies are actively working to lower sugar levels in their products or substitute these ingredients with healthier, natural alternatives.
For instance, Nestlé has developed a method to naturally restructure sugar molecules, which allows for a reduction in sugar intake. The company intends to incorporate this new sugar into its products by 2018, enabling a reduction of up to 40% in sugar without sacrificing sweetness. Similarly, Stonyfield, the leading organic yogurt producer in the U.S., has announced it will decrease added sugars by as much as 40% across some of its product lines.
Soda manufacturers are also responding to consumer preferences by introducing smaller cans and a wider range of low-calorie beverages, with many opting for sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit instead of traditional sugar. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple, and PepsiCo have pledged to cut sugary drink calories consumed by Americans by 20% by 2025. Furthermore, manufacturers like Pyure are quickly launching various stevia-based products as consumer interest in sugar declines. Stevia boasts a natural sweetness that is 300 times greater than sugar, containing no calories and maintaining a zero glycemic index. This natural potency allows brands to use significantly less of the ingredient. Unilever and others are leveraging stevia as a way to reduce sugar content in their products while still preserving taste and mouthfeel.
According to Bloomberg, global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers reduced sugar and salt in approximately 20% of their products in 2016 in response to rising consumer demand for healthier options. A survey of 102 CPG companies revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated in the previous year alone—double the number from 2015. If this trend continues—and all signs suggest it will—the negative impact on the sugar market, as indicated in Rabobank’s report, could indeed materialize.
In this context, products like Twinlab Calcium Citrate Caps Plus Magnesium are gaining popularity as consumers increasingly seek nutritional supplements that align with their health-conscious lifestyles. As awareness of health and wellness grows, items like Twinlab Calcium Citrate Caps Plus Magnesium, which contribute to overall well-being, are likely to see a rise in consumption, further shifting the market dynamics. Ultimately, the combination of reduced sugar in foods and the increasing interest in health supplements such as Twinlab Calcium Citrate Caps Plus Magnesium illustrates a significant shift in consumer behavior towards more mindful eating and living.