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Sugar Replacers

The drive towards healthier eating means consumers are trying hard to curb calories – but they are not prepared to compromise on taste, texture or indulgence. Developments in the sweetener world, from artificial to natural, are giving manufacturers new formulation tools to play with.

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Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant

06-Feb-2012 - Mint confectionery products containing the sweetener stevia could appeal to EU consumers, but each country has its own preference, according to a consultant to Cargill

PureCircle sales fall, awaiting EU stevia approval

21-Sep-2011 - PureCircle said that a “delay” in regulatory approval for stevia in the EU was a factor contributing to lower-than-expected sales for the year.

PureCircle introduces new stevia sweetener for deeper calorie reductions

16-Sep-2011 - Stevia supplier PureCircle has introduced a new stevia-derived sweetener, which it claims has fewer of the taste problems previously associated with stevia, allowing deeper calorie reductions in a wide range of products.

‘Sweets for my sweet’ costly for Bulgarian confectioners

12-Sep-2011 - EU-wide sugar shortages have led to particular problems for confectioners in Bulgaria, according to recent comments from a trade body in that country.

Belgian firm gears-up for first ever UK stevia chocolate launch

09-Sep-2011 - Belgian chocolate firm Cavalier has confirmed that it is planning to launch the UK's first chocolate range containing stevia from January next year, while other launches across the EU will also follow initial listings in Belgium from November.

New fructose enhancers promise ‘significant amplification’ of sweet taste in HFCS

06-Sep-2011 - San-Diego-based flavor innovator Senomyx has started taste tests on novel fructose enhancers that could help amplify the sweet taste of fructose, a key component in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

EFSA boosts Toothfriendly developing world dental campaign

01-Aug-2011 - The 20-year-old non-profit group, Toothfriendly, says its efforts to promote dental health have been boosted by recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) positive opinions – including non-European, developing world nations.

Analysts predict 6-7% sucralose growth for Tate & Lyle

29-Jul-2011 - UK analysts are forecasting 6-7% growth in sucralose for Tate & Lyle Splenda version of the sweetener which leads the segment globally.

GLG granted Stevia patent in China

20-Jul-2011 - A fully owned subsidiary of GLG Life Tech Corp has been granted a patent in China for its stevia extraction process.

Commission flags up November for EU-wide approval of stevia

27-Jun-2011 - November 2011 should see steviol glycosides get regulatory backing for use in food in drink products in the European market, according to a European Commission (EC) representative.

Roquette says EFSA sweetener opinions apply to fibre too

28-Apr-2011 - French supplier Roquette says recent positive health claim opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) linking sugar replacers with dental health, are applicable to soluble fibres.

Emerging markets and sugar prices drive sucralose takeup, JK Sucralose

25-Feb-2011 - The market for the sweetener sucralose is poised for growth, with global production expected to top 15,000 tonnes by 2018, according to the world’s second largest sucralose producer.

Roquette chews on positive EFSA gum opinions

10-Nov-2010 - French supplier Roquette is hailing the potential of polyols to boost dental health, following recent article 14 positive opinions for sugar-free gum from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Cargill's reduced calorie chocolate set to hit shelves in 2011

27-Oct-2010 - Cargill’s sweetener experts have further enhanced its reduced calorie chocolate prototype that was shown at FIE in November 2009, with the commercial product set to hit the market at the end of 2011, said the company.

Maltitol has good digestive tolerance: study

31-Aug-2010 - Maltitol is better tolerated then previous reported, and could be used as a sugar replacer in a wide range of food products - according to new research.

Radical new twist in Ajinomoto vs Asda 'nasty' battle

03-Jun-2010 - The legal dispute between Ajinomoto and Asda over the right to call aspartame 'nasty' has taken a radical new turn following a Court of Appeal judgment effectively overturning last year's High Court ruling.

Stevia tops preferences for low-cal chocolate

01-Jun-2010 - Beverages formulated with stevia are preferred by consumers over similar products sweetened with sugar or other common high intensity sweeteners, says new research from Croatia.

Cargill gets Novel Foods for Xtend sucromalt

28-May-2010 - A sucromalt ingredient from Cargill has received Novel Foods approval in Europe, opening up the use of the sweetener in a range of food and beverage products in the bloc.

'Very large confectioner' in baobab trial

24-May-2010 - Product developers at a “very large confectionery company”, a smoothie maker, a babyfood manufacturer and several cereal bar makers are conducting trials of products containing powder from the pulp of the African baobab fruit.

Comax sweetness enhancer responds to lower-sugar demand

21-May-2010 - Comax Flavors claims to have ‘set a new standard’ for sweetness enhancers for foods and beverages with the latest addition to its Max FlavorLab range of enhancers.

Randomness may be key to reduced sugar products

21-May-2010 - Uneven distribution of sugar in a food may allow formulators to reduce the sugar content of foods without detrimentally affecting the sweetness of the finished product, Dutch researchers report.

Air bubbles may help cut salt and sugar: Unilever

11-May-2010 - The salt and sugar content of foods may be reduced by using air bubbles as an “inert filler” in liquid products, according to new research from Unilever R&D Vlaardingen.

Sucralose does not promote weight gain: Human study

07-May-2010 - Consumption of sucralose and sucralose-sweetened products does not affect gut hormones linked to hunger, or detrimentally affect blood sugar levels, says a new study from Australia.

Drop in demand for sugar-free sweets in US: report

26-Apr-2010 - The market for sugar-free sweets in the US has declined in recent years, according to a new report from Leatherhead International.

Dietary sugars may be affecting cholesterol levels: Study

22-Apr-2010 - Increasing intakes of sugars from processed and prepared foods may detrimentally affect levels of HDL ‘good’ cholesterol, says a new study from the US.

Spotlight

Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant
Exclusive interview

Stevia and mint flavours a winning combination, says Cargill consultant

Mint confectionery products containing the sweetener stevia could appeal to EU consumers, but each country has its...

Robotics, clean-label and stevia: ProSweets 2012 roundup

Robotics, clean-label and stevia: ProSweets 2012 roundup

The confectionery trade fair ProSweets ended on Wednesday after four days of intensive trade fair business in...

Hershey records growth as international markets shine

Hershey records growth as international markets shine

The Hershey Company has announced improved sales and gross profit in its fourth quarter (Q4) and end...

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