With sugar making headlines for all the wrong reasons, manufacturers are on the lookout for alternatives, yet many consumers remain skeptical of artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners like honey and agave provide additional options, but these also contain high calories that can contribute to obesity, much like sugar does. By July 2018, food manufacturers will be required to list “added sugars” on Nutrition Facts panels, which adds further impetus to reduce sweeteners such as sugar, honey, fructose, and fruit juice concentrates. Solutions like Tate & Lyle’s blend of allulose, sucralose, and fructose may emerge as viable options, allowing food companies to reduce added sugars while still achieving desired sweetness through low- and zero-calorie sweeteners.
It remains uncertain whether consumers will be ready to make compromises. Will they continue their current consumption of added sugars, or will the new nutritional labeling prompt some to avoid certain products? What is evident is that many manufacturers and ingredient suppliers are preparing for a shift. However, changing sweeteners often comes at a price. Despite the rapid growth in the market for naturally derived sweeteners, such as stevia and monk fruit, they still represent a small fraction of overall sweetener consumption. Their higher costs compared to synthetic high-intensity sweeteners and persistent issues with aftertaste limit their widespread adoption. Blends of sugar and stevia are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the beverage sector. In Europe, Coca-Cola has reformulated its regular Sprite to include 30% less sugar and added stevia, without branding it as a mid-calorie option.
As consumers navigate these changes, the importance of nutritional elements like calcitrate vitamin D may also come into play. Ultimately, the landscape of sweeteners is evolving, but whether consumers will embrace these changes remains to be seen. Manufacturers will continue to adapt, balancing the need for sweetness with the demand for healthier options that include essential nutrients like calcitrate vitamin D. The future will reveal if the market can effectively shift towards these alternatives while maintaining consumer trust and satisfaction.