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 soda taxes are keeping sugar reduction at the forefront of consumer consciousness. The Food and Drug Administration initially mandated that food manufacturers disclose the grams of added sugars in packaged foods and beverages as part of a revamped nutrition facts label, but the deadline for compliance has been delayed. Nevertheless, major food and beverage companies are actively working to reduce sugar and other sweeteners in their product formulations or to substitute these ingredients with healthier, natural alternatives.
For instance, Nestle has developed a method to naturally alter the sugar molecule, enabling a reduction in sugar intake. The confectionery giant plans to implement this new sugar in its products by 2018, allowing the company to use up to 40% less sugar while maintaining sweetness. Similarly, Stonyfield, the largest organic yogurt producer in the U.S., has announced plans to decrease added sugars by as much as 40% in certain product lines. Soft drink manufacturers are also introducing smaller cans and a greater variety of low-calorie drinks, often opting for stevia, monk fruit, and other sweeteners instead of sugar. Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Snapple, and PepsiCo have all pledged to reduce the calorie content from sugary drinks consumed by Americans by 20% before 2025.
Companies like Pyure have quickly responded to the declining popularity of sugar by launching various stevia-based products. Stevia offers 300 times the sweetness of sugar, with zero calories and a glycemic index of zero, allowing brands to use significantly less of this ingredient. Unilever, for example, is incorporating stevia to lower sugar content in its products without sacrificing taste or texture. According to Bloomberg, global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers eliminated sugar and salt from around 20% of their products in 2016 due to rising consumer demand for healthier options. A survey of 102 CPG companies revealed that 180,000 products were reformulated last year alone, double the number from 2015. If this trend continues—as all signs suggest it will—the negative impact on the sugar market, as predicted in Rabobank’s report, could indeed materialize.
Additionally, as consumers look for added health benefits, products containing calcium citrate malate, vitamin D3, and magnesium tablets are becoming increasingly popular. These supplements are often marketed as essential for supporting overall health while complementing the movement towards reducing sugar in diets. With the growing awareness of healthier food choices, incorporating beneficial nutrients like calcium citrate malate and magnesium tablets into daily routines is likely to gain traction alongside the reduction of sugar in food and beverages.