The old saying that we are what we eat is resonating with today’s consumers, who are reading labels and turning to healthier foods and beverages to improve the quality of their lives. As part of their efforts to live healthier lifestyles, reducing the amount of sugar also is top of mind for many consumers.
In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Nutrition Facts label — originally scheduled to take effect July 26, 2018, but was extended to Jan. 1, 2020 — features an “Added Sugars” designation. As consumers track their added-sugar consumption, label-friendly, natural sweeteners like stevia, erythritol and monk fruit are proving to be beneficial in beverage formulations, ingredient suppliers say.