FDBusiness.com

In recent years, a trend for healthier lifestyles has emerged and consumers have become increasingly aware of the ingredients in their food and drinks. As EU sugar consumption figures reach nearly 32kg per person per year, sugar reduction has become the health trend under the spotlight. There is increasing pressure on manufacturers from consumers and legislators to reduce the levels of sugar in all products. However, while consumers want healthier foods with reduced sugar, they are unwilling to compromise on taste.

New research from Kerry has indicated:

• One in three European consumers are drinking less soft drinks than a year ago
• 52% of consumers buy less soft drinks, because of their high sugar content
• 60% of consumers are looking for more low sugar drinks
• Not all consumers are satisfied with the existing offers, 30% associate ‘healthier drinks’ with poorer taste.

While the beverage industry has responded to this demand by producing drinks with artificial sweeteners, the research shows that 63% of consumers are worried about the health impacts, with over half saying that they don’t like the taste.

In response to this growing concern and demand for alternatives, Kerry has developed TasteSense™, a natural flavouring solution, which builds back the sweetness that is lost, when sugar is reduced, allowing consumers to enjoy the taste and mouthfeel that sugar delivers, without the negative labelling impact.

Commenting on this constant taste versus nutrition battle, Leigh Anne Vaughan, Marketing Director, Kerry Taste and Nutrition says: “Food and beverage companies often believe reducing sugar content requires a compromise on function and taste. Sugar doesn’t just add the sweet taste to a product, it is much more complex.  It is also used to give some food and beverages the texture, and overall mouthfeel that consumers love.  Many solutions offered cannot fully deliver the lost taste, and mouthfeel of sugar. Many also bring with them undesirable off-notes and aftertastes.”

Ms. Vaughan adds: “Kerry Taste and Nutrition has developed TasteSense™ a product, we have developed to address these issues and solve these problems for our customers. It ensures the great taste desired by consumers is maintained and can be used across a range of categories including beverage, yogurt, ice-cream, bakery, sauces and ready-meals. TasteSense™ adds back the sweetness and mouthfeel that is lost by the reduction of sugar. And it can be labelled as a natural flavoring.”

The key benefits of using TasteSense™:

• Allows for up to 30% sugar reduction
• Adds back the sweetness and mouthfeel that is lost when sugar is reduced
• Labelled as a natural flavouring
• Suitable for use in all categories of food or beverage where a flavour can be used.