Sweetener blend from Tate & Lyle targets cereal bars

The London-based firm has rolled out two liquid blends: the former combining low calorie bulking agents and low calorie sweeteners such as polydextrose; the latter with low calorie bulking agents and fructose. The new Tate & Lyle launch to cut carbohydrates comes despite a downturn in the consumer trend for low carbohydrate products, that by all accounts has already peaked. But Mike Augustine, director of product applications and technical support, Ingredients at Tate & Lyle claims the recent surge and promotion of low-carb products has served to raise awareness of carbohydrate consumption. "People are now sensitive to the balance in their diet of carbohydrates. Our systems target food makers aiming to cut the carbohydrates, or looking for a no-sugar claim," he tells FoodNavigator.com. Declining to disclose the price of the new 'Rebalance System TM001 and TM002', Augustine says the products are at a "premium to sugar, but should not be priced higher than sucralose." Cereal bars were initially heralded as a convenient and tasty health food but it has been increasingly found that many contain high quantities of fat and sugar, which countered the health benefits offered by their high fibre content. In parallel, western Europe's cereal bars market is 'massively under-exploited', according to a report last year from market research analysts Datamonitor. The product accounts for only 5 per cent of confectionery sales in some markets and yet confectionery overall is currently reaching saturation - in western Europe annual growth has slowed to around 2.5 per cent. The new blends from Tate & Lyle are not yet in products on the market, but according to Augustine the firm is currently working with two firms in Europe with an eye to launches. Blends, formulated on a bespoke basis depending on customer needs, could include bulking agent maltodextrin, polyols (specifically sorbitol), sucralose and polydextrose. Tate & Lyle's polyols are made in Europe, while the polydextrose is manufactured in the US using "GM free ingredients from Europe", says Augustine. Cereal bars will have a shelf-life of six months after delivery "without toughening or crystallisation" , he adds.

Sweetener blend from Tate & Lyle targets cereal bars

Cereal bar makers looking to slash carbohydrate and sugar levels could find the solution in a new 'rebalance system' from sweetener supplier Tate & Lyle, the company claims, writes Lindsey Partos.

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