According to Mintel, a significant majority of American consumers (84%) are actively reducing their sugar intake. This shift has resulted in a growing demand for alternative sweeteners, particularly those derived from stevia, which experienced the fastest growth in the category last year. Sales of other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, such as agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, are also on the rise. However, taste challenges associated with stevia and monk fruit have emerged for manufacturers, prompting several companies to create products that blend these two sweeteners to mitigate bitterness issues. Early adopters included Chobani, which launched its Simply 100 Greek yogurt line in 2013 featuring a stevia-monk fruit blend. That same year, Zevia reformulated its stevia-sweetened soda to incorporate monk fruit extract.
GLG Life Tech has opted for a different strategy. Originally focused solely on stevia extracts, the company entered the monk fruit market in 2014 as more businesses began to combine the two sweeteners. Recently, GLG partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to leverage the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium in its stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. This collaboration will enhance ADM’s product offerings, which will also include MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder, known for its clean label advantage and suitable for labeling as ‘natural flavoring’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’.
Monk fruit extracts tend to be more expensive than stevia extracts; however, its unique taste profile can make it a more appealing option for manufacturers, depending on the desired flavor of the final product. In June, ADM announced its partnership with GLG Life Tech, becoming the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie sweeteners, including those derived from monk fruit, in India. This addition enhances ADM’s global portfolio of low-calorie sweeteners, which already features VivaSweet sucralose. For those seeking health supplements, the Solgar Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D3 in 120 tablets is a great option to consider, complementing a balanced diet alongside these innovative sweeteners.