The use of sweeteners to reduce calorie content in food and drink is sometimes controversial, but vital to F&B manufacture. What sweeteners are used and what do they do?
Children’s sugary drink intake rose 23% between 1990 and 2018, according to a new study published in the BMJ - nearly twice the increase seen among adults. Sounding the alarm, researchers say that interventions such as school soda sales bans have become...
Sweetener blends and modulators, like those showcased by Icon Foods and NutraEx at IFT FIRST in Chicago last week, could offer companies less expensive sugar-reduction and calorie-cutting solutions.
Consumers are turning to healthy snacks that deliver functional claims — from improving gut health to promoting weight management — while still providing the sweet and salty flavors they expect, food and beverage industry experts shared during a recent...
Plant-based ingredient company Fooditive is helping US CPG companies develop better-for-you products with its Keto-Fructose, a sweetener that is similar to allulose and provides a fraction of the calories of sugar, company CEO Moayad Abushokhedim told...
United Sodas of America’s recently appointed president, Dan Herndon, is taking a practical hands-on approach to growing the low-sugar soda company, as the brand focuses on expanding in select channels and deploying capital efficiently to maintain a sustainable...
Foodtech company Incredo expands its sugar reduction solutions with the launch of Incredo Sugar G2, a concentrated version of its clean label, protein-sucrose blend Incredo Sugar made from cane and/or beet sugar and a dairy- or plant-based protein to...
Biotech company Oobli is expanding its confections portfolio with the release of a line of milk chocolate bars, demonstrating sweet proteins' potential for chocolate applications, company CEO Ali Wing told FoodNavigator-USA.
Consumer confusion over how best to reduce sugar in one’s diet persists. Are they still looking for ‘zero added sugar’ in sweet drinks? Regulatory and ingredients experts weigh in.
As the debate on weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and public health continues, CPG companies have a range of opportunitied to create healthier products now, which can have meaningful impacts on consumer health, Hank Cardello, leadership solutions program...
As consumers become increasingly wary of sugar content, CPG companies are meeting the demand for zero-sugar products with the help of natural sweeteners, a trend set to gain momentum in the US as regulators and scientists push for reductions.
Research showing consumer preferences for sweetness intensity may not be as easy to reduce as their preferences for sodium suggests a “stealth health” approach of slowly lowering added sugar across the food supply may not be an effective strategy for...
CPG companies reducing sugar content to meet WHO and other health organization guidelines are increasingly relying on a variety of natural sweeteners, as the industry walks a precarious line in meeting those reduction goals and consumer demands, according...
The influence of non-GMO claims on purchase intent is declining, while claims such as “no artificial ingredients,” “natural flavors” and “no added sugar” are more impactful, Carla Saunders, senior marketing manager, Cargill, explained to FoodNavigator-USA.
While most Americans love a sweet treat, many don’t love the accompanying spike in their blood sugar and inevitable crash that follows – forcing them to choose between an indulgence and their health.
More than fat or calories, the nutritional information consumers are most likely to look for on food and beverage packages is sugar, with a survey conducted by Cargill finding nearly two out of three consumers aiming to avoid it and the majority also...
Sugar has emerged as public enemy No. 1 among consumers and FDA is looking for sugar reduction strategies at the behest of the White House – and yet, most Americans still want moments of indulgence with many people justifying them as much-needed support...
FDA opened registration this week for a virtual public meeting and listening session it will hold Nov. 6-8 on strategies to reduce added sugar consumption, following a commitment it made last fall during the White House’s Conference on Hunger, Nutrition...
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), which recommends against the use of NSS to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
To change the food and beverage industry from the inside, former first lady Michelle Obama announced at the Wall Street Journal Future of Everything Festival this week the launch of better-for-you kid’s brand PLEZi Nutrition, where she will serve as a...
Sugar reduction policies and programs in New York City and Berkeley, Calif., could serve as public health templates for cities across the country, according to experts gathered at the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) Sugar Reduction...
Day one of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Sugar Reduction Summit centered around the organization’s sugar reduction initiatives for all food and beverage categories, aligning with USDA and the New York Department of Hygiene and Mental...
The multifunctional and tolerable prebiotic fiber is resistant dextrin made from tapioca and 20% as sweet as sugar, according to its producer, Anderson Advanced Ingredients.
Similar to previous partnerships between SweetLeaf and the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the collaboration intends to bring more visibility towards diabetes risk and management and provide actionable ways for people with diabetes to improve their...
Recently published research in The BMJ is providing fresh concerns about sugar consumption levels, as some industry stakeholders disagree with the conclusion and CPG brand look to innovate in the low- and no-sugar space.
How do sugar reduction strategies – such as low/no sugar products and reduced pack sizes – affect product sales? A new study explores how manufacturers can create ‘win-win-conditions’ in both reducing sugar and boosting sales.
Natural soda brand Zevia is sweetening its branding with a new look as it aims to boost its household penetration and eliminate plastic from its supply chain, company CEO Amy Taylor told FoodNavigator-USA.
One technology Dole Packaged Foods is trialling to reduce the sugar content in its pineapple juice comes from BlueTree Technologies. We hear about the Proof of Concept (PoC) process between an established food and beverage major and a food tech start-up.
Production of steviol glycosides extracted from stevia grown in Europe produces just 10% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with sugar production, according a life cycle assessment.
After unlocking full access to a $24.5m series A fundraise, North Carolina based food-tech Elo Life Systems is on track to launch in 2025 at least two forms of its new natural high-intensity sweetener “inspired by monk fruit,” but which it says will be...
Research shows school meals are the healthiest source of nutrition for most students in the US, but the US Department of Agriculture thinks they can be healthier, which is why it is proposing stricter standards that would reduce added sugars, fat and...
Two Good – a low-sugar Greek yogurt with 2g sugar per cup launched by Danone in early 2019 - has been a leading contributor to dollar growth in the total yogurt category over the past three years, while a zero-sugar version of Light & Fit has also...
In 2018, the KraftHeinz Company approached the Wyss Institute to develop a solution to sugar reduction that is workable in a food production setting. After four years of collaboration, the research team has developed an answer: enzymes that convert sugar...
With surging inflation and continuing supply chain disruptions, 2022 has been another challenging year for the nation’s food and beverage manufacturers. Here are some of the highlights (and a few low lights) and a look ahead to 2023.
After eight years of research and development, Joywell Foods has rebranded as Oobli, and unveiled the first food products – chocolate bars boasting 70% less sugar – to feature the sweet protein brazzein.
Israeli food tech startup Amai Proteins is finalizing the initial closing of a $100m funding round as it gears up to launch its first product next year: a designer sweet protein up to 3,000 times sweeter than sugar with a clean taste and excellent heat...
Zevia continues to gain new shoppers, increasing the brand's household penetration (+1.3 million households in Q3 2022 vs. Q3 2021) while the company sorts through temporary inventory management issues that have dented its full 2022 year outlook.
Food tech startup Better Juice has opened its first full-scale manufacturing plant to enable commercial production of its patented sugar reduction technology, which can reduce sugar content in juice products by 30-80%.
Scientists have found that lactase derived from lactic acid bacterium can be used to produce naturally sweet yogurt, paving the way for the production of flavored yogurt without added sugars.