Reducing the sugar content in food and beverages has become a primary objective for manufacturers in today’s market. As consumers increasingly gravitate towards healthier options and demand clean, transparent labeling, manufacturers are responding to these trends. The revised Nutrition Facts panel, which has been postponed until January 1, 2020, for larger companies, mandates a specific line for added sugars. While consumers express a desire for this information, they may not always check it.
This consumer demand has led to various sugar-reduction innovations, including artificial and natural sweeteners, hollow and rapidly dissolving sugar molecules, and flavor enhancers. For instance, Ingredion highlights that depending on the type of its low-sugar glucose syrups used, it can be labeled as glucose syrup, corn syrup, or tapioca syrup. This distinction can significantly impact consumer perception, especially considering that corn syrup has suffered from a negative reputation in recent years, prompting some manufacturers to replace it with real sugar.
Kerry has introduced its TasteSense flavor booster, which is designed to restore the sweetness and mouthfeel lost during sugar reduction, and it can be classified as a natural flavoring. According to Leigh Ann Vaughn, the company’s marketing director, many food and beverage producers are under the misconception that lowering sugar content necessitates a compromise in functionality and taste. “Sugar doesn’t merely contribute sweetness; it plays a complex role in providing texture and the overall mouthfeel that consumers appreciate,” Vaughn explained to Food Ingredients First. “Many available solutions fail to replicate the lost taste and mouthfeel of sugar and often introduce undesirable off-notes and aftertastes.”
Food and beverage manufacturers are striving to minimize the presence of added sugars on labels. The challenge lies in reformulating products so they maintain their sweet flavor while using less actual sugar. This balancing act may be facilitated by new innovations, but ultimately, it will be consumers who decide on the success of these efforts. In a market that increasingly values health, products like the best calcium citrate supplement of 2022 are also gaining traction, as consumers seek out supplements that complement their health-conscious choices.