Savvy sugar reduction solutions, immunity-boosting candies and organic lollipops in spotlight at ISM and ProSweets 2022

31 Jan 2022 --- Sugar reduction technologies, healthy indulgent recipes and sweets and snacks that support an active and conscious lifestyle are being underscored at ISM and ProSweets 2022 in Cologne, Germany. No added sugar, sugar substitutes and sugar-free ranges of candies feature prominently at this year’s event (Jan 30 - Feb 2). 

Natural extracts and colorings are also becoming the norm as more producers offer consumers better-for-you sweets. FoodIngredientsFirst reports live from the show floor, speaking to suppliers and manufacturers of confectionery with a healthy halo. 

At Nunu Candies, the use of natural sweeteners, such as stevia, was particularly important in the formulation of its compressed candies. “A product may be sugar-free but can still be bad for your health. So we’ve switched to all natural sweeteners and coloring,” Yasar Acar, manager of exports, Nunu Candies, explains.

The company’s lemon raspberry, pomegranate strawberry, watermelon tangerine, mild peppermint and strong peppermint range are sweetened with steviol glycosides and acesulfame K and colored using plant extracts. 

Guilt-free sweet treatsCerdán has launched sugar-free candies containing vitamins to boost immunity.
Innova Market Insights highlights a clear focus toward nature-based ingredients with growing interest in three parallel areas: natural sweeteners, less sweetening and no sweetness. 

In this space, Zùsto highlights its fiber-based sugar substitute as a versatile offering that makes it possible to create tasty confectionery and bakery products without the need for sugar. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sugar substitute has the same taste and crunch of sugar, contains 75% less calories than sugar and is rich in dietary fibers. It has a low glycemic index of 22 and is suitable for diabetics.

“We use plant-based fibers like inulin and fructooligosaccharides. These are all blended together. We use four kinds of fibers because one kind of fiber would not be very good for your digestion,” Nico Renmans, managing director of Zùsto sugar substitute tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

Each fiber has a different digestive function. 

This sugar substitute is composed of 63% dietary fibers, combining prebiotic and vegetable dietary fibers, such as polydextrose and fibers from chicory and corn with sweeteners. 

 Zùsto boasts the same taste and functional capacities as sugar, such as caramelization.

“The big advantage of our product is that it’s a one-on-one replacement of sugar so you don’t have to adapt your recipes. Or you can work in the same recipe you have. You will have the same taste come out of it,” he says.

Zùsto can be used to make chocolate, jams, spreads and biscuits, among other applications. Sweeteners including isomalt and sucralose are added to get the same taste and functionality as sugar. 

Many companies continue to innovate in the sugar reduction category. DouxMatok, for example, combines its Incredo Sugar, which enables up to 50% sugar reduction, with Hi-Food’s Meltec semi-solid fiber to offer an end-to-end nutritional solution for reformulating manufacturers.

Immunity boosting candiesCandies with a health halo are on trend.
Young children are the biggest samplers of confectionery and candies, therefore parents are going above and beyond to find candies and lollipops that have a healthier halo. 

Cerdán is helping to provide this with a full range of sugar-free candies containing vitamins B6, B12, C, zinc and echinacea to boost immunity. 

“I think that the main thing all over the world is that we can offer products that are healthy for children. Sugar reduction means that we do produce lollipops that have less than 30% sugar. We also produce organic lollipops,” Maria Olmo, export manager at Cerdán tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

The company has developed the Nemo line for adults as well. The products are sold in Spain, Greece, Italy, Belgium and France. Cerdán is expanding its reach to the UK, Israel, Korea, China and Australia. 

“We are getting stronger in organic shops and pharmacies,” says Olmo.

No sign of slowing down
Sugar reduction remains a crucial theme for industry as both consumers and governments push for healthier food and beverages. And, while many can agree “less is more,” opinions differ on how this should be done. Industry has, in turn, developed a host of systems to reduce sugar by varying degrees. 

Innova Market Insights’ latest Ingredient Insider report analyzes trends in sugar reduction and the use of sweeteners in food and beverage applications.

By Inga de Jong