Amidst rising health concerns around the consumption of sugar and government regulations on the same, a range of natural and artificial substitutes for sugar have flooded the market. The best bet for FMCG companies in this bout of sugar reduction has been stevia, a plant-based sweetener, available in the form of leaves or extract.
This organic ingredient, with a negligible calorie count and glycemic index, continues to replace sugar in a variety of recipes, without significantly altering the latter’s taste or texture. Listed below are some of the most optimal food options for stevia incorporation.
Stevia in Beverages
Steviol glycosides, like Reb A Stevia, have been granted a GRAS status by the FDA as opposed to the crude stevia leaf which is still not approved as a sweetener or food additive by the FDA. Consequently, purified stevia extracts have been used for sugar reduction in flavored soft drinks and beverages. Brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have used stevia to produce diet-friendly versions of their signature drinks by the name of Coca-Cola Life and Pepsi True respectively.
Stevia in Baked Goods
The strong sweetening power of stevia makes it fit for addition to recipes of baked goods, ranging from cakes to cookies, and more. In fact, using stevia instead of sugar expands the market of confectioneries and patisseries by including people with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart ailments into their consumer base.
Stevia in Desserts and Dairy
Dairy-based goods like gourmet cream, and desserts like chocolates and ice cream, are discredited for their massive carb and fat content. Sugar reduction in these recipes is a must, and stevia is the ideal way to do so. This makes such sweet foods especially safe for consumption by children and pregnant women, who are extremely vulnerable to the risks of sugar overdose.
Stevia in Seasonings and Condiments
Purified stevia extract, in its liquid form, can be added to different sauces, while in its powdered form, the same stevia extract can be used as a stand-alone seasoning or tabletop sweetener.
Arboreal Stevia
Arboreal is a recognized biotechnology firm dealing in industry-scale stevia solutions for the FMCG sector. Their diverse range of stevia extracts are all 100% organic but vary in their proportions of steviol glycosides so as to cater to different recipe needs. Arboreal’s exclusive ArboPure line, for instance, accommodates different grades of Reb A Stevia (RA 50, RA 60, RA 80, RA 97, RA 99) in each of its extracts.
Arboreal also possesses a rich reserve of expert stevia know-how, preserved under the name of ArboEDGE, which it uses to formulate custom solutions for different F&B products. Their team is confident about turning your sugar reformulation ideas into reality within 30 days of collaboration. For further information on their products and services, check out their website.