BEVERAGEDAILY.COM SPECIAL EDITION: SWEETENER INNOVATION

Monk fruit makes headway…but still faces aftertaste issues: Mintel

Mintel analyst Laura Jones tells BeverageDaily.com that use of monk fruit as an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener has tripled in the past five years, but says she believes it still...

BEVERAGEDAILY.COM SPECIAL EDITION: SWEETENER INNOVATION

Sucralose and stevia steal sweetening show for US beverage developer

Stevia and sucralose are the best natural and non-natural sweeteners on the US market, according to one beverage developer, with savvy formulators able to iron out the former’s aftertaste issues....

BEVERAGEDAILY.COM SPECIAL EDITION: SWEETENER INNOVATION

Ajinomoto fights to ‘stabilize profitability’ in aspartame after 2012 losses total billions of yen

Ajinomoto’s industrial aspartame business lost billions of yen in 2012, but the company’s Senior VP for North America tells BeverageDaily.com it is working hard to ‘stabilize profitability’.

BEVERAGEDAILY.COM SPECIAL EDITION: SWEETENER INNOVATION

Beverage launches driving stevia-sweetened product growth: PureCircle

The number of stevia-sweetened products launched around the world in 2012 'nearly doubled' compared to 2011 – a figure that leading stevia manufacturer, PureCircle, attributes to a recent steady stream...

Ingredion: Our new encapsulation matrix will “open up product developers’ creativity”

Strong consumer demand for sugar-free gum – a ‘sweet’ spot of the industry – will lead to exciting new flavors and nutrient delivery, says ingredient supplier Ingredion, with the company’s...

Innovation in action: From stevia to sustainable palm oil… A day at Cargill’s Minneapolis HQ

Can you make a perfect zero-calorie cola with stevia? Is the US food industry on track to meet sustainable palm oil targets? Are attitudes towards HFCS changing? What’s next for...

Coconut water fortifies diet when substituted for non nutritive drinks, research shows

Coconut water can make a positive nutritional contribution to the diet if it is used to replace high calorie, non nutritional beverages, according to new research presented the recent Experimental...

Europe must learn from the US on stevia, says Mintel

While stevia products have boomed in Europe, manufacturers should follow the US trend of blends if growth is to continue, a Mintel analyst says.

Guest article

EU brain health opportunities in omega-3 and beyond

Brain health and memory emerged as a winner from the EU Article 13.1 health claims list as the link between nutrition and cognitive performance strengthens in the scientific literature.

Chr Hansen expands colouring food offering

Ingredient supplier Chr. Hansen says it has stepped up efforts to support food and drink manufacturers in making the switch to the 'next generation' of natural colours by expanding its...

ABC hits back at report linking Ginkgo Biloba to cancers in mice

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) insists consumers should avoid gingko biloba, a tree-derived extract commonly used in teas, some energy drinks and supplements, after a US...

Symrise backs sour cherry power for sports recovery

Symrise has launched what it says is the highest polyphenol concentration extract derived from European-sourced sour cherries. Sports recovery is the target market.

FIRMS SEE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL IN CLEAR, FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES

Stepan Lipid Nutrition and Virun paint bold brushstrokes on clear beverage ‘canvas’

Virun and Stepan Lipid Nutrition have signed a letter of intent to exploit what both companies agree is untapped potential in the clear, functional beverage space.

Ingredion: We’ve absolutely seen an increase in interest for our BVO alternatives

Pressure from consumers for alternatives to weighting agents like BVO (brominated vegetable oil) is driving interest for novel clean label ingredient solutions, says ingredient supplier Ingredion.

Vitamins-in-cap beverage company expands IP, distribution

H2M Beverages has announced a new patent on its cap technology that will further bolster its position as it expands distribution of its 989 On Demand rehydration beverage that features...

NTC: ‘We have a unique, sustainable and cost effective solution to mask stevia’s licorice taste’

Geneva-based Natural Taste Consulting (NTC) has developed a ‘unique, sustainable and cost effective’ solution to significantly reduce the undesired licorice taste of stevia extracts, and bring the taste closer to...

Sirco sales up 300% as claims and taste receive makeover

Sales of Sirco – the UK juice containing an EFSA-approved, blood flow-benefitting tomato extract – have surged 300% in the past 12 months amid a formula, claims and distribution revamp.

Study hails eco-friendly synthetic colour test

Scientists have outlined an eco-friendly test for certain synthetic food colours commonly used in soft drinks and sugar and gelatin-based confectionery.

Swedish start-up backs pre-loaded satiety proteins

Swedish form Indevex Biotech is marketing low-GI, protein blends designed to be eaten about 30 minutes before meals to increase satiety.

EU sugar quotas should go by 2017, says Council of the EU

The Council of the European Union last night issued a mandate to scrap EU sugar quotas by 2017 and a final decision is now set for June.

Hain Celestial: ‘Chia is red hot… Coconut's been on fire’

Hain Celestial has unveiled a raft of new products utilizing hot ingredients from chia and quinoa to coconut pulp and almonds, including organic gluten-free chia seed corn tortilla chips under...

NO EVIDENCE OF 'SIGNIFICANT' CHILD GI INTOLERANCE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS: CARGILL

Cargill suffers bitter erythritol blow: EFSA rejects beverage use extension

Cargill has failed in its second attempt to secure EU approval for use of bulk sweetener erythritol in soft drinks, after EFSA published a negative opinion relating to its introduction...

Adams Food Ingredients unveils cost-saving dairy ingredient replacement powders

Adams Food Ingredients (AFI) has developed a range of cost-saving clean-label dairy powders that enable manufacturers to replace all or part of a dairy ingredient.

new UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS STUDY SHOWS SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCE GAINS

Power to the Peloton! Monster Energy picks up cycling pace

Drinking Monster Energy boosted cycling time trial performance and cognitive functioning, in a new study that suggests sportspeople may benefit from energy drink consumption prior to competition.

News in brief

Classic Sprite reformulated with stevia for UK market

The Coca-Cola Company has reformulated its regular Sprite with stevia – and 30% fewer calories – for the UK market, the company has said.