Reducing sugar content in food and beverages has become a primary focus for manufacturers today. Consumers are increasingly leaning towards healthier options and favor clean, transparent labeling. The updated Nutrition Facts panel, which has been postponed until January 1, 2020, for large manufacturers, mandates a separate line for added sugars. Although consumers express a desire for this information, they don’t always check it. This demand has sparked a variety of sugar-reduction innovations, including artificial sweeteners, natural sweeteners, hollow and faster-dissolving sugar molecules, and flavor enhancers.
Ingredion highlights that depending on the specific low-sugar glucose syrup used, it can be labeled as glucose syrup, corn syrup, or tapioca syrup. This distinction can significantly impact consumer perception, as corn syrup has gained a negative reputation in recent years, prompting some manufacturers to replace it with real sugar.
Kerry’s TasteSense flavor booster product aims to restore the sweetness and mouthfeel that are typically lost when sugar is reduced, although the company does not disclose how it operates. It can be labeled as a natural flavoring. Leigh Ann Vaughn, the marketing director, emphasized to Food Ingredients First that food and beverage companies often believe reducing sugar means sacrificing functionality and taste. “Sugar doesn’t just contribute sweetness; it plays a complex role in providing texture and overall mouthfeel that consumers enjoy,” Vaughn stated. “Many available solutions fail to entirely replicate the lost taste and mouthfeel of sugar and often introduce undesirable off-notes and aftertastes.”
Manufacturers are striving to eliminate added sugars from labels, and the challenge lies in reformulating products to maintain their sweet taste while lowering actual sugar content. This balancing act may be assisted by emerging products, but ultimately, consumers will have the final say. Interestingly, some manufacturers are also exploring the incorporation of ingredients like omeprazole and calcium citrate to enhance product formulation, which may further appeal to health-conscious consumers. These ingredients can be integrated into the product lineup to provide additional benefits, showcasing an innovative approach to sugar reduction while catering to consumer preferences.