FDBusiness.com

As the Sugar Tax launches, Biochemist Steve Pearce and the team at Omega Ingredients are moving the front line of sugar replacement technology forward by launching a new formulation of their natural flavour system ΩMegaSweet® with ΩMegaSweet® Extra, an unprecedented new sugar replacement, blended with the addition of third generation Stevia.

The key benefit of Omega’s unique ΩMegaSweet® Extra, which sees their existing ΩMegaSweet®  boosted with third generation Stevia, is that it can naturally reduce sugar content by up to 50%, all whilst intensifying flavour, enhancing mouthfeel and boosting natural sweetness.

ΩMegaSweet® was developed by Steve Pearce and the team at Omega to be a 100% natural offering; a calorie-free natural flavour system. This allows consumers unprecedented genuine mouth-feel and the indulgent taste of sucrose with zero after-taste, a result that is impossible to achieve through more traditional sugar alternatives such as artificial sweeteners Aspartame or Acesulfame K, which although easier to use, lead to a watery tasting beverage, something that the use of ΩMegaSweet® avoids.

This distinctive natural flavour technology, which is available in liquid and powdered applications, became one of Omega’s most sought-after products in the run-up to April 6th. Following its 2017 release, Omega are pleased to announce it is now being used worldwide in products such as ice cream, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), dairy products, bakery items and cakes, breakfast cereals, high sugar staples such as baked beans and sugar high condiments like ketchup.

ΩMegaSweet®’s one-of-a-kind formulation also allows for manufacturers to “clean label” products as a natural flavour, rather than the traditional declaration of “sweetener” or “artificial sweetener”. The same can be applied to ΩMegaSweet® Extra, which can be still be declared as “Natural Flavouring” according to Regulation (EC) No. 1334/2008 and “Sweetener: Steviol glycosides” on ingredient label declarations.

This is particularly attractive to manufacturers affected by the Sugar Tax, as they look to remain transparent to consumers concerned about increased artificial sweetener consumption post April 6th.  ΩMegaSweet® can also be used to boost the flavour profile of the finished product and tailored to carry notes such as citrus, cola or any botanical blend the client requires.

“Since the announcement of the sugar tax, brands across the globe have had to address the sugar content across their ranges. That’s why we designed ΩMegaSweet® – to combat the challenges faced by the food and drink industries. The feedback we’ve had from companies that are already using ΩMegaSweet® is overwhelmingly positive; they’re delighted with the results. It is a huge benefit to the industry that products like ΩMegaSweet® allows them maintain a natural label declaration, especially as we enter a new era of ultra-transparency,” comments co-founder Steve Pearce.