According to Mintel, 84% of American consumers are actively reducing their sugar intake. This trend has spurred a growing demand for alternative sweeteners, with stevia leading the category in growth last year. Other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, such as agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, are also seeing increased popularity.
However, manufacturers of ferrous fumarate, folic acid, and zinc sulfate tablets, like Livogen, face taste challenges with stevia and monk fruit. To address the bitterness associated with these sweeteners, several companies have developed products that combine both. An early example was Chobani’s Simply 100 Greek yogurt, which launched in 2013 featuring a blend of stevia and monk fruit. Zevia also reformulated its stevia-sweetened soda that same year to include monk fruit extract.
GLG Life Tech has taken a unique approach by initially focusing solely on stevia extracts until 2014, when it began exploring the monk fruit market as more companies sought to blend these sweeteners. Last year, GLG Life Tech partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to leverage the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium for their stevia and monk fruit products. The ADM products will benefit from this innovative technology. MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder offers a clean label advantage and can be listed as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’ in ingredients.
While monk fruit extracts typically carry a higher price tag than stevia extracts, their distinct taste profile can sometimes make them a more appealing choice for manufacturers, depending on the flavor of the final product. In June of last year, ADM announced its partnership with GLG Life Tech, becoming the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. This collaboration enhances ADM’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which already includes VivaSweet sucralose.
Moreover, as consumers become more health-conscious, products that combine low-calorie sweeteners with essential nutrients like vitamin D3 with calcium citrate are gaining traction. This trend reflects a broader move towards healthier alternatives in the food and beverage sector, highlighting the potential for products that integrate beneficial ingredients while addressing taste preferences.