Sugar reduction demands an array of options to either mask off flavors and objectionable aftertaste or to intensify, or to synergistically round out the perception of the sweetness profile. Although both nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners build sweetness with increased concentration, they do not follow the same linear curves. Nutritive sweeteners will always result in more concentrated sweetness with a clean finish. Most low- and non-nutritive options have concentration thresholds, above which lingering off-notes or digestive side effects present and eventually become objectionable.
The drive to reduce sugar derives from two consumer demands: lower calories and “healthier” (read: no empty calories) ingredients. The 2021 Sweets and Snacks Expo revealed portion size still being a major control point for less sugar. On hand were a numerous single-serve packaging examples of sweet snacks and confections with no more than 200 calories.