Consumer research shows that sugar reduction messaging is reaching consumers. In the 2020 Health and Nutrition Survey, at least half of consumers surveyed reported cutting back, limiting, or avoiding sugar to prevent conditions such as diabetes or to lose or manage their weight.

Conagen, a Massachusetts-based biotech firm, has commercialized an expansive portfolio of natural sweetness enhancers for taste modification in sugar reduction solutions for food and beverages. The enhancers are made with precision fermentation, a technology that has led to the innovation of an extensive platform of phenolic antioxidants.

Lycored, a global leader in lycopene and beta-carotene derived color and taste-enhancing ingredients for food and beverages, will be showcasing its range of super-stable red, orange, gold and yellow hues and real food ingredients at this year’s Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Expo in Chicago.

Prepared Foods is giving readers even more food and beverage content across six key topics, which we’re calling POWER TRENDS.

In the United States, specifically, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 call for consumers to “limit foods and beverages higher in added sugars” to less than 10% of daily calories. Research shows the top sources of added sugars in the US diet include sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts and sweet snacks, sweetened coffee and tea, and candy.

The new varieties include two new Marvel inspired SKUs: tangy Lemon-Lime & Orange variety pack featuring Spider-Man and Ghost-Spider, and a sweet Strawberry-Mango Pop featuring Avengers characters.

The new Flavored Creamers include all-organic ingredients, and that means real dairy from cows that are raised without antibiotics, toxic pesticides, or added hormones.

Food and beverage brands get two more tools for their sugar reduction toolkits as Conagen announced the successful scale-up production of two new high-intensity sweeteners, thaumatin I and thaumatin II. The development will expand commercial partner Sweegen’s robust sugar reduction solutions of zero-sugar natural sweeteners.

Originating from a portfolio of better-for-you frozen treats, new Halo Top Fruit Sorbets contain 260 calories per pint, and are vegan certified, gluten-free desserts that burst with flavor while having at least 50% less sugar than other fruit sorbets in the frozen aisle.