Health trends are steering consumers toward healthier food and beverage options that are lower in sugar and artificial sweeteners. Initiatives like the recent “month without sugar” and state-imposed soda taxes are keeping sugar reduction at the forefront of consumer awareness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially mandated food manufacturers to disclose the grams of added sugars in packaged foods and beverages as part of a revamped nutrition facts label, although the deadline for compliance has been postponed. Nevertheless, major food and beverage companies are actively working to reduce sugar and other sweeteners in their products or replace them with healthier, natural alternatives.
Nestlé has developed a method to naturally restructure sugar molecules, resulting in a reduction in sugar intake. The confectionery giant plans to incorporate this new sugar into its products in 2018, enabling a decrease of up to 40% in sugar content without sacrificing sweetness. Stonyfield, the leading organic yogurt brand in the U.S., recently announced its intention to cut added sugars by as much as 40% in some of its product lines. Additionally, soda manufacturers are introducing smaller can sizes and more low-calorie beverages, many opting for alternatives like stevia and monk fruit instead of traditional sugar. Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple, and PepsiCo have all committed to reducing the calorie count of sugary drinks consumed by Americans by 20% before 2025.
Companies such as Pyure have quickly brought various stevia-based products to market as consumer preference shifts away from sugar. Stevia naturally offers 300 times the sweetness of sugar, with no calories and a zero glycemic index, allowing brands to use significantly less of this ingredient. Unilever, for example, is incorporating stevia to lower sugar content in its products without compromising on taste or mouthfeel.
According to Bloomberg, global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers eliminated sugar and salt from about 20% of their products in 2016 in response to increasing consumer demand for healthier options. A survey of 102 CPG companies revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated last year alone—double the amount from 2015. If this trend continues, which all indicators suggest it will, the negative impact on the sugar market, as forecasted in Rabobank’s report, could indeed become a reality.
In the midst of these dietary changes, queries like “can you take calcium citrate at night?” are also gaining traction as consumers become more health-conscious and seek to optimize their nutritional intake. This reflects a broader trend towards being mindful of health choices, including when and how to take dietary supplements. As consumers increasingly prioritize their health, the importance of understanding the timing and efficacy of supplements like calcium citrate is likely to grow, alongside the ongoing reduction of sugar in food and beverages.