According to Mintel, a significant 84% of American consumers are actively reducing their sugar intake. This shift has spurred 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, including agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, have also seen an upward trend, both in caloric and low-calorie options. However, manufacturers face taste challenges with stevia and monk fruit, leading several companies to create products that blend these two sweeteners to mitigate bitterness.
Notable early examples include Chobani’s Simply 100 Greek yogurt line, which debuted in 2013 using a stevia-monk fruit blend, and Zevia, which revamped its stevia-sweetened soda later that same year to incorporate monk fruit extract. GLG Life Tech has taken a different route; initially focusing solely on stevia extracts, the company entered the monk fruit market in 2014 as more businesses began combining the two sweeteners. Last year, GLG partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to leverage the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium in its stevia and monk fruit products. This collaboration aims to enhance ADM’s offerings, as MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder provides a clean label advantage, allowing it to be listed as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’ on ingredient labels.
While monk fruit extracts tend to be pricier than stevia extracts, their distinct taste profile can make them a more appealing choice for manufacturers, depending on the desired flavor of the final product. In June, ADM announced its exclusive partnership with GLG Life Tech to distribute and market its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, which will enhance the company’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, already including VivaSweet sucralose. Additionally, the incorporation of calcium citrate 300 mg in their formulations could further attract health-conscious consumers seeking natural alternatives. This strategic move positions ADM to better cater to the evolving preferences of American consumers looking to limit sugar intake while enjoying flavorful products.