18 Jan 2021 --- Sweeteners are instrumental in a longer-term sugar reduction strategy, while hitting the benchmarks of naturality and functionality remains a strong focal point. Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, industry’s leading formulators showcase a myriad of nature-derived high intensity sweeteners, which include wheat- and barley-based syrups, reduced-sugar glucose syrup and fermentation-based stevia extracts. Many of these solutions convey added benefits such as emulsion stability, texturizing or moisture retention.