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 this category last year. The sales of other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, such as agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, are also on the rise. However, stevia and monk fruit have presented taste challenges for manufacturers, prompting several companies to create blends of the two sweeteners to mitigate bitterness issues.
Early adopters like Chobani launched their Simply 100 Greek yogurt line in 2013, utilizing a stevia-monk fruit blend, while Zevia reformulated its stevia-sweetened soda that same year to include monk fruit extract. GLG Life Tech has taken a different route; after exclusively producing stevia extracts until 2014, the company ventured into the monk fruit market as more brands began combining both sweeteners. Last year, GLG partnered with MycoTechnology, based in Colorado, to leverage the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium for their stevia and monk fruit offerings. This collaboration promises to enhance ADM’s product line with this innovative technology.
MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder also boasts a clean label advantage, allowing it to be listed on ingredients as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer.’ While monk fruit extracts generally come at a higher price than stevia, their unique taste profile can make them a more appealing option for manufacturers, depending on the flavors intended for the final product. In June, ADM announced its partnership with GLG Life Tech to become the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, effectively rounding out the company’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which already includes VivaSweet sucralose.
As consumers continue to seek out lower-sugar diets, the availability of products like citracal alternative sweeteners will likely see an increase, reflecting the ongoing trend towards healthier consumption choices. The integration of citracal alternative sweeteners into various food products may further support this shift, appealing to a health-conscious demographic that prioritizes reduced sugar intake without compromising on taste.