Ingredion launches videos on stevia sweeteners to help F&B manufacturers harness sweetener potential in sugar-reduction formulations
UK – With sugar reduction becoming a trending topic by the day as consumers choose healthy over indulgence, food ingredients supplier Ingredion has launched a new video series to help food and beverage manufacturers harness the potential of stevia sweeteners in low sugar formulations.
The five-part video series focuses on the use of stevia sweeteners and functional build-back (FBB) ingredients in sugar reduction formulations.
The videos provide an understanding of the stevia leaf — from its sustainability and versatility — to the identification of new steviol glycosides (stevia leaf molecules), such as Reb M, which contributes to a more balanced, sugar-like sweetness without bitter off-notes.
Other topics explored include the natural origin of stevia, and why it is ideal for achieving sugar reduction goals while meeting consumer demands for a healthy lifestyle.
Ingredion educational videos couldn’t be timelier as Food and beverage manufacturers are under increasing pressure to formulate products that support the growing importance of a healthy lifestyle.
The challenge for manufacturers, however, is to not only develop products that help support a healthy lifestyle; products must also be great-tasting.
In addition to taste, they must also deliver an ideal texture and nutritional appeal, and may support consumer-preferred label claims such as ‘plant-based’, ‘natural origin’, and ‘no added sugar’.
Innovation in stevia is however creating opportunities for manufacturers to develop products that achieve these sensory, nutritional, and claim expectations.
Helen Hook, Sugar Reduction and Specialty Sweeteners Platform Lead EMEA at Ingredion, says: “Utilising our extensive knowledge and experience of the steviol glycosides within the leaf, PureCircle™ by Ingredion has developed optimal solutions for many applications using combinations of steviol glycosides, to deliver the right balance between sweetness and eating experience.
Our stevia solutions also add holistic value to manufacturers — that’s because our approach considers every aspect of new product development, from process improvement and ingredient replacement to sustainable sourcing and ingredient supply.”
The videos also acknowledge how new innovations, such as bioconversion technology, are driving the affordability of premium stevia molecules like Reb M.
They also demonstrate how Ingredion’s FBB ingredients, such as polyols and soluble corn fiber, help replace the bulking, texture, and mouthfeel lost when reducing sugar.
Ingredion notes that these FBB ingredients can be used in combination with PureCircle’s enhanced stevia solutions and flavor modifiers to deliver great-tasting, sugar-reduced products.
Back in November 2022, EU Commission gave authorization for PureCircle’s Reb M, Reb D and Reb AM steviol glycosides produced via bioconversion.
As a result, PureCircle offers Reb M and a broad portfolio of plant-based, stevia solutions to manufacturers across the EU.
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