Tate & Lyle launches new isotonic sports drink solution

12/06/06 Tate & Lyle, a global leader in renewable ingredients, is launching a new sweetening solution for isotonic sports drinks for the European market – Sports Drink REBALANCE™ 015.

Designed specifically for isotonic sports drinks, which replenish water and minerals to the body before, during and after exercise, Sports Drink REBALANCE™ 015 can create more effective and better tasting isotonic sports drinks for the consumer and provide technical benefits to beverage manufacturers.

Isotonic solutions by definition have an osmotic pressure equivalent to human blood, due to their balanced composition of minerals and carbohydrates. Therefore the balance of these ingredients within the formula is critical.  Besides fructose, which is used to enhance sweetness and boost fruity notes, SPLENDA® Sucralose is also part of the blend and creates a technological advantage. Because sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar, and consequently takes up less particle space than many other sweeteners, it enables manufacturers to add more minerals to the product.

Consuming drinks that contain too much or not the ideal kind of carbohydrates during exercise can lead to gastric problems or cramps. Sports Drink REBALANCE™ 015 has been specially formulated based on leading scientific research to provide a small amount of carefully selected carbohydrates at the optimum level.

Independent sensory testing of prototype sports drinks made with REBALANCE™ 015 has shown a favourable performance on many key attributes when compared with leading brands currently on the market. Significant improvements include a more balanced sweetness profile and a decrease in sour flavour and aftertaste, in off-flavour as well as in astringent mouthfeel, all of which are attributes associated with some existing sports drinks.

“This is the latest in a series of exciting commercial launches from within the REBALANCE™ range,” explains Rachel Moffatt, Tate & Lyle’s European Marketing Manager.  “Commercial bottlers and manufacturers in countries such as France and Italy are already interested in this solution because it provides them with increased freedom of formulation. This means they can cater for varying taste preferences within different markets and deliver added functional benefits.”  

“The key driver for Tate & Lyle REBALANCE® solutions is to reformulate a product’s nutritional profile without compromise to taste and enjoyment.  The pace of change in the beverage industry is increasing and manufactures need to respond accordingly to the demands of today’s savvy consumers.  Tate & Lyle has a long and proud history of innovation.  We are proud of the research that has gone into the development of this product line – this is a real technological advance and is unique to Tate & Lyle.”