Health trends are steering consumers towards healthier food and beverage options that feature reduced sugar and fewer artificial sweeteners. Initiatives such as the recent “month without sugar” and state soda taxes have kept the importance of 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 revised nutrition labels, but the deadline has been postponed. Nevertheless, major food and beverage companies are actively working to lower sugar content and replace sweeteners with healthier, natural alternatives.
Nestle has developed a method to naturally restructure sugar molecules, allowing for a significant reduction in sugar intake. The confectionery giant intends to incorporate this new sugar into its products in 2018, enabling the use of up to 40% less sugar while maintaining product sweetness. Similarly, Stonyfield, the largest organic yogurt producer in the U.S., recently announced plans to cut added sugars by as much as 40% in several of its product lines. Soda manufacturers have also responded by launching smaller cans and more low-calorie options, often opting for stevia, monk fruit, and other alternative sweeteners instead of traditional sugar. Companies like Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple, and PepsiCo have pledged to decrease the caloric content from sugary drinks consumed by Americans by 20% by 2025.
In addition, manufacturers such as Pyure have quickly introduced various stevia-based products to the market as consumer preferences shift away from sugar. Stevia naturally offers 300 times the sweetness of sugar without any calories and has a zero glycemic index. This natural sweetness allows brands to use significantly less of it. Companies like Unilever are integrating stevia into their formulations to reduce sugar levels without sacrificing taste or mouthfeel.
According to Bloomberg, global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers eliminated sugar and salt from about 20% of their products in 2016, responding to the increasing consumer demand for healthier options. A survey of 102 CPG companies revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated last year alone—double the number from 2015. If this trend continues—which all signs suggest it will—the negative impact on the sugar market, as outlined in Rabobank’s report, could indeed materialize.
Amidst these changes, consumers are also looking for effective dietary supplements, such as the best liquid calcium citrate supplement, to support their health goals. As dietary preferences evolve, the demand for such supplements is likely to rise, paralleling the trend towards healthier food and beverage choices. Consequently, the focus on reducing sugar across the industry may align with a broader shift towards holistic health, including the pursuit of essential nutrients like calcium through the best liquid calcium citrate supplement.