Sweet, Sweeter, Sweetener
Sweeteners are the most dynamic sector of the bakery ingredients market, as every manufacturer wants to offer customers products that align with their health goals. Continuous research and innovation in this field allows them to do this better every day.
One of the primary challenges bakers face today is selecting the right sweetener to achieve their goals for a new baked product. Whether the aim is to create a reduced-sugar item, reformulate a traditional recipe to meet updated sugar regulations, or craft a baked good tailored to those on specialized diets, choosing the ideal ingredient is key to maximizing flavor – ultimately the most important factor.
The term “sweeteners” includes a broad spectrum, ranging from full-calorie options like glucose syrups, maltose syrups, glucose-fructose syrups, fructose syrups, and dextrose (monohydrate and anhydrous), derived from corn and wheat, to low/no-calorie polyols like maltitol, sorbitol (liquid or powder), isomalt, mannitol, and blends, as well as high-intensity sweeteners like stevia.
Sugar is highly functional in baked goods. Aside from providing sweetness, it has a bulking function and influences texture, spread, structure, browning, processability of the product, shelf life and more. Reformulating to reduce sugars without sacrificing physical and textural attributes, adhering to regulatory requirements, and addressing other nutritional and functional requirements is a huge challenge with no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, successful sugar-reduced bakery formulations must find the right combination of ingredients to replicate these functions. Here are some recent developments in this field.
New Stevia from Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle recently unveiled its new stevia composition, OPTIMIZER STEVIA 8.10. This innovative ingredient delivers the highly desired premium taste profile closest to sugar, even at high sugar replacement levels, while offering a more cost-effective solution than other premium sweeteners.
This stevia composition offers a comprehensive set of benefits for both manufacturers and consumers. With OPTIMIZER STEVIA 8.10, manufacturers gain access to a versatile, great tasting stevia at a lower cost-in-use, offering an improved value compared to other premium stevia sweeteners. This translates to delicious, low-calorie options that meet consumer demand without compromising on taste. The unique composition qualifies for labeling as “stevia extract,” aligning with consumer preference for a sweetener derived from nature.
With versatility across applications, OPTIMIZER STEVIA 8.10 is ideal for achieving a superior taste profile in high sugar-replacement formulations like nutrition bars and shakes, functional beverages, vitamin gummies, and yogurt.
“OPTIMIZER STEVIA 8.10 is a breakthrough for the industry,” said Abigail Storms, Senior Vice President Global Platform, Sweeteners & Fibers, Tate & Lyle. “We’ve leveraged our technical expertise to create a sweetener that not only meets the highest standards of taste and quality but also delivers cost savings to our customers. OPTIMIZER STEVIA 8.10 opens a world of possibilities for food and beverage manufacturers because they no longer have to compromise on taste because of cost. Whether you’re looking to improve taste, reduce costs, or enhance the nutritional profile of your products, OPTIMIZER STEVIA 8.10 delivers on all fronts.”
A Plug & Play Sweetener from NutraEx Food
NutraEx Food, Inc. a leading supplier of natural sweeteners, has launched BI-Sugar – a ground-breaking new plug & play sweetener solution that inhibits the digestion of sugar.
BI-Sugar is produced by NutraEx using its patented dry-embedding technology, which bonds L-arabinose to regular sugar (sucrose) and another natural sweetener, such as stevia or monk fruit. Not only does BI-Sugar enable the reduction of calories from sucrose, but research has also shown that L-arabinose functions as a glycemic inhibitor, delaying and partially blocking the conversion of sucrose into glucose and fructose.
This action means that replacing ordinary sugar with BI-Sugar could help to prevent the blood sugar spike typically associated with sucrose intake. In turn, this could result in longer-lasting energy and support the maintenance of a healthy weight, at a time when GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic have elevated public discussion and awareness about the biological mechanisms that cause conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
In total, BI-Sugar offers four compelling benefits: optimal sweetness, calorie reduction, sugar blocking, and reduced costs. It is versatile and can be used across various product categories, including beverages, bakery, confectionery, dairy, and dietary supplements. BI-Sugar performs the Maillard reaction to produce delightful caramel notes, a feature that is limited in other sugar-reduction solutions. Furthermore, it is made from all natural ingredients that are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) in the US, removing any regulatory barriers to its use in food and beverage formulations.
NutraEx sources L-arabinose from China-based Healtang Biotech Co. Ltd, a global leader in L-arabinose production, under an exclusive distribution agreement. The sweetener is extensively used in the Chinese food and beverage sector, where it is favored by consumers for its ability to mitigate the glycemic impact of sugar.