Sweet Innovations: Exploring the Decline of Sugar in the Food Industry
In recent years, the food industry has witnessed a significant shift in consumer preferences, with an increasing emphasis on low-sugar and low-carb diets, such as keto. This shift is not only driven by a desire for healthier eating habits but also by the recognition that reducing sugar intake may have a positive impact on overall health. In this blog, we'll explore how the food industry is responding to this trend and the innovative sweetener alternatives that are reshaping the way we enjoy our favorite foods.
The State of Sugar
While sugar, in moderation, is not inherently harmful, excessive sugar consumption has been linked to health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease. A staggering statistic reveals that added sugars make up a significant portion of daily calorie intake, with up to 17% for adults and 14% for children in the United States.
Even before the pandemic, health-conscious consumers were already making efforts to limit their sugar intake, driven by concerns about future health issues. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of reducing sugar consumption has gained even more prominence. Today, 30% of U.S. internet users consider "low sugar" as a more significant dietary concern, and 55% of U.S. adults aspire to limit sugar in their diets.
The Low-Carb & Sugar Equation
Diet trends like Atkins, keto, and paleo have been at the forefront of encouraging reduced sugar and carbohydrate consumption. This has led to the emergence of new sweeteners, particularly allulose and erythritol, which align with the principles of these diets. As a result, the snack and bakery categories have seen a surge in keto-focused innovations, accounting for 16% of global keto food and drink launches in the last five years.
Common Sugar Substitutes
To meet the growing demand for reduced sugar options, food and beverage companies have turned to various sweetener alternatives. Let's explore some of the key players:
Stevia: Derived from the leaves of the stevia plant, this natural sugar substitute is intensely sweet (100 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar) but contains no carbs, calories, or artificial ingredients. However, traditional stevia may have a bitter aftertaste.
Monk Fruit Extract: This sweetener, extracted from monk fruit, relies on antioxidants called mogrosides for sweetness. It is a potent, zero-calorie natural sweetener that does not contain fructose or glucose.
Yacon Syrup: Yacon plants, native to the Andes, provide high-fiber, sweet syrup with only a third of the caloric value of sugar.
Products of Note:
- PureCane’s Sweeteners: These feature erythritol and proprietary Reb M made from sugarcane, offering a sugar-like taste with zero carbs.
- Rowdy Bars: These gluten-free, paleo-friendly bars are sweetened with yacon syrup, catering to health-conscious consumers.
- Enlightened Keto Caramel Chocolate Double Dough Ice Cream: A low-fat ice cream sweetened with monk fruit extract.
- BodyArmor Lyte Orange Clementine Flavored Sports Drink: This potassium-packed sports drink is free from added sugar and sweetened with stevia rebaudiana leaf extract.
For food and beverage brands, the market holds an opportunity to provide flavorful, low or no-calorie options, particularly in the beverage sector. Clear labeling that promotes low sugar products can attract consumers seeking to reduce their sugar consumption. Flavor solutions, including taste modifiers and maskers, can help address any taste challenges associated with sugar reduction or non-nutritive sweeteners.
Fill Things Out with Fiber
In addition to sweeteners, fibers offer a viable option for sugar reduction, providing sweetness and bulk. This approach also aligns with the growing demand for more fiber in diets and the appeal of sweeteners that offer additional nutritional benefits.
Chicory Root: Known for replicating sugar's functions as a flavor enhancer, texturing agent, and sweetener, chicory root is a versatile ingredient in sugar reduction.
Acacia Gum: Commonly used in beverage production, acacia gum adds sweetness, volume, and texture to low-sugar products while improving softness and mouthfeel.
The Takeaways
For consumers, a life with less sugar can still be sweet without compromising on taste. Whether people are looking for diet-friendly substitutes, more natural sweeteners, or simply aiming to reduce their sugar consumption, the options are now more diverse than ever. Even for sweetener alternatives with taste challenges like bitterness and unpleasant mouthfeel, flavor solutions can help create the perfect product for consumers.
If your brand is considering integrating low- or no-sugar options into your product line, remember that taste remains a top priority. Balancing health and flavor is key to satisfying the evolving preferences of today's more health-conscious consumers.
