With sugar frequently making headlines for negative reasons, manufacturers are on the lookout for alternatives. However, many consumers remain skeptical of artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners, such as honey and agave, also present options, but they are high-calorie choices that can contribute to obesity, much like sugar. By July 2018, manufacturers will be required to list “added sugars” on the Nutrition Facts panel, which provides additional motivation to reduce sweeteners like sugar, honey, fructose, and fruit juice concentrates. Solutions like Tate & Lyle’s blend of allulose, sucralose, and fructose could become more prominent, enabling food companies to strike a balance with smaller amounts of added sugars and enhanced sweetness from low- and zero-calorie sweeteners. Whether consumers are ready to make these trade-offs remains uncertain. Will they continue to consume added sugars as before, or will the new nutritional information labels prompt some to avoid specific products? It is evident that many manufacturers and ingredient suppliers are gearing up for change. However, adapting to new sweeteners comes at a cost.
Despite the rapid growth of the naturally derived sweetener market, stevia and monk fruit still represent a small fraction of total sweetener consumption. Their use is constrained by higher prices, as they are generally more expensive than synthetically produced high-intensity sweeteners, along with persistent issues related to aftertaste. Blends of sugar and stevia have gained popularity, especially in the beverage sector. For instance, in Europe, the Coca-Cola Company reformulated its regular Sprite to contain 30% less sugar and incorporated stevia, doing so without marketing it as a low-calorie option. Additionally, there are ongoing discussions about health supplements, including thorne cal mag, which may influence consumer choices in the sweetener landscape. As market dynamics shift, the integration of products like thorne cal mag could reshape how consumers perceive sweeteners, potentially leading to a greater emphasis on natural ingredients and balanced nutrition.