New ingredient approvals, certifications announced
Icon Foods launches TagaLite sweetener
Layn Natural Ingredients receives FEMA GRAS approval for SteviUp M2
Layn Natural Ingredients announced it has received FEMA GRAS Approval (No. 5106) for its branded ingredient, SteviUp M2. The next-generation sweetener was developed to deliver a cleaner, more sugar-like taste profile with improved solubility and reduced lingering sweetness compared with conventional steviol glycosides. According to InsightAce Analytic, the global plant-based sweeteners market is projected to reach $4.75 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.68% from 2024 to 2031. As consumer demand continues to grow for natural sweetening systems such as stevia and monk fruit, formulators continue to face challenges related to taste profile, lingering sweetness, and mouthfeel in reduced-sugar applications. Layn Natural Ingredients launched SteviUp M2 in 2025 to help formulators address long-standing challenges associated with traditional stevia sweeteners, including bitterness and solubility limitations, while maintaining non-GMO and clean-label standards. “Layn Natural Ingredients has spent more than two decades advancing stevia ingredient development to help formulators create better-tasting reduced-sugar products,” said Frank Xie, president and CEO of Layn Natural Ingredients, in a statement. “Receiving FEMA GRAS approval for SteviUp M2 further validates our long-term investment in stevia innovation and reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality, science-backed solutions to the global food and beverage industry.”
Tate & Lyle fiber portfolio receives NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified certification
Tate & Lyle PLC received NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified certification for four product lines within its prebiotic fiber portfolio, recognizing the strength of its science-led approach to prebiotic fiber innovation. Tate & Lyle is a member of the Global Prebiotic Association (GPA). GPA recognizes and endorses the standards offered by the global NutraStrong Prebiotic Verified program. The certification provides independent, third-party verification against recognized scientific criteria. It is designed to recognize ingredient brands that meet rigorous standards for scientific substantiation, quality and transparency. It covers Tate & Lyle’s PROMITOR Soluble Fibre, STA-LITE Polydextrose, EUOLIGO FOS and GOSYAN GOS product ranges. Tate & Lyle’s fiber portfolio is supported by a strong body of scientific evidence. For example, PROMITOR Soluble Fibre alone is backed by more than 20 scientific studies and there are hundreds of studies across the full breadth of the portfolio. NutraStrong certification builds on this foundation, providing customers with independent verification of the quality and scientific substantiation behind Tate & Lyle’s prebiotic fiber solutions. The verification process included product specification and analytical review; confirmation of ingredient dosage supporting a prebiotic claim (including at least one randomized, controlled trial demonstrating microbiome modulation and a resulting health benefit); and verification of laboratory and manufacturer accreditation.
Icon Foods launches TagaLite, a functional sweetener with no added sugar
Icon Foods launched TagaLite, a tagatose sweetener designed to deliver sugar-like functionality and sweetness without added sugar on the Nutrition Facts Panel. The launch follows the FDA’s clarification that tagatose no longer needs to be declared as an added sugar, expanding use of the ingredient in reduced-sugar and better-for-you formulations. “The FDA clarification significantly changes the formulation landscape for tagatose as a primary sweetener across better-for-you categories,” said Thom King, chief innovations officer at Icon Foods, in a statement. “For years, formulators have recognized tagatose’s functional advantages and low glycemic response, but the added sugar labeling requirement limited broader adoption. The FDA clarification removes that barrier and creates new opportunities for brands looking to reduce sugar.” Tagatose is a rare sugar naturally occurring in small quantities in dairy products. It delivers approximately 90% of the sweetness of sucrose with a near-identical sweetness curve, while containing roughly 60% fewer calories. It is considered a low-glycemic sweetener and has been shown to support prebiotic fermentation by feeding beneficial gut bacteria. TagaLite is Icon Foods’ branded tagatose ingredient and is particularly well-suited for baked goods, dairy products, beverages, frozen applications, confectionery, and better-for-you snacks.
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