Ingredion has recently launched a five-part video series that provides valuable insights into the potential of stevia sweeteners and functional build-back (FBB) ingredients in sugar reduction formulations for food and beverage manufacturers. The series delves into the latest understanding of the stevia leaf – from its sustainability and versatility to the identification of new steviol glycosides (stevia leaf molecules) such as Reb M that help achieve a perfectly balanced sweetness without any bitter aftertaste.
Helen Hook, Sugar Reduction and Specialty Sweeteners Platform Lead EMEA at Ingredion, highlights the pressure faced by food and beverage manufacturers to develop products that support a healthy lifestyle, while also being great-tasting, delivering an ideal texture and nutritional appeal, and supporting consumer-preferred label claims such as ‘plant-based’, ‘natural origin’ and ‘no added sugar’. Stevia solutions can enable manufacturers to develop products that meet these expectations.
Utilizing their extensive knowledge and experience of the steviol glycosides within the leaf, PureCircle™ by Ingredion has developed optimal solutions for many applications using combinations of steviol glycosides to deliver the right balance between sweetness and eating experience. Their stevia solutions add holistic value to manufacturers by considering every aspect of new product development, from process improvement and ingredient replacement to sustainable sourcing and ingredient supply, resulting in high-value, cost-effective products.
In addition, the videos acknowledge how new innovations, such as bioconversion technology, are driving the affordability of premium stevia molecules like Reb M, as well as how Ingredion’s FBB ingredients, such as polyols and soluble corn fibre, help replace the bulking, texture, and mouthfeel lost when reducing sugar.
The videos are released following the EU Commission’s authorization of PureCircle’s Reb M, Reb D, and Reb AM steviol glycosides produced via bioconversion in November 2022. As a result, PureCircle provides Reb M and a broad portfolio of plant-based stevia solutions to manufacturers across the EU.
To acquire in-depth knowledge about the power of stevia and to watch the series, please visit: https://www.ingredion.com/emea/en-uk/solving-a-challenge/challenges/sugar-reduction-specialty-sweeteners.