Market research firms say consumers are looking for ways to reduce their sugar intake, but there is still high demand for products that provide sweetness. The report points out: Natural sweeteners are an important part of a healthy diet. Consumers want sugar in food and beverages to come from natural sources.
According to NielsenIQ data, in 2021, the products with the highest online searches for "sugar-free products" are stevia and monk fruit. There were 2.1 million searches for "stevia" and 1.2 million searches for "monk fruit."
Some organizations are pushing to reduce sugar intake to combat obesity and diabetes. This has led to the food and beverage industry reformulating.
Natural sweeteners such as stevia, monk fruit, honey, agave nectar and coconut sugar are becoming increasingly popular. Stevia and monk fruit extract are particularly popular for their zero-calorie properties and natural origins.
New stevia-related products have spread all over the world, with carbonated soft drinks, snacks, fruit drinks, other beverages and dairy products ranking among the top five applications. Sales of products containing coconut sugar, sugar alcohols and stevia are also growing.
Current dietary trends will continue to drive the development of low- and zero-calorie sweeteners, such as keto. Products in this category include energy bars, cereals, baking mixes, cookies and snacks.
It is recommended that consumers should develop the habit of reading the nutritional label when purchasing food or drinks. The nutritional information table will indicate the carbohydrate content and energy content per 100 ml of the product. The nutritional label of some foods or beverages will separately indicate the content of sweeteners.
Reference
[1]. Asghar, M. T., et al. (2019). Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) sap as a potential source of sugar: Antioxidant and nutritional properties. Food Science and Nutrition.
[2]. American Heart Association. (2018). Non-nutritive sweeteners (artificial sweeteners).
