KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) – Stevia has become a very important ingredient for beverage and food companies, according to data provided by Mintel Global New Products Database.
PureCircle, the world's leading producer and innovator of great-tasting stevia sweeteners, reported the launches of new food and beverage products containing stevia leaf sweeteners increased significantly in the first six months of 2018 versus the comparable period in 2017.
To meet growing demand for stevia sweeteners, PureCircle completed expansion of its Malaysian stevia extract facility in March 2017 – increasing its capacity to supply the newer and great-tasting stevia sweeteners.
The company has also increased production capacity to supply more stevia sweeteners like Reb D and Reb M in significant quantities and cost effectively.
According to a statement by the Chicago-based company, the new product launches with stevia rose by 27 per cent globally – the launches of beverage products containing stevia grew 33 per cent while food products with stevia grew 23 per cent.
Based on Mintel research, the top two regions which launched stevia as an ingredient were Asia/Pacific (42 per cent) and Europe (22 per cent), followed by Latin America, North America and Middle East/Africa.
Major companies launching products with stevia leaf sweetener in the first half of 2018 included Calbee Foods, The Coca-Cola Co, Danone, Grupo Bimbo, Kraft Heinz, Nestle, PepsiCo, Seven & I Holdings and Unilever.
Stevia leaf extract is a natural, zero calorie, high-intensity sweetener – used by global food and beverage companies as a great-tasting zero-calorie, alternative to sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Food and beverage companies have an increasing need for such an ingredient, because health experts and governments have become increasingly concerned about obesity and diabetes and consumers have more health and wellness conscious.
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