Healthier Snacks with BENEO’s Ingredients at IFT 2017

Cookies and Cereals with Less Sugar but Equal Sweetness, Taste and Texture

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / June 23, 2017 / BENEO, a leading manufacturer of functional ingredients, will focus on lower sugar content in indulgent foods and snacks during the 2017 IFT Food Expo in Las Vegas from June 25-28 at booth #4023. Recent technical trials show that cookies and coated cereals using BENEO’s ingredients from nature cut down on sugar content while delivering the great taste and texture consumers expect.

According to consumer research conducted by international market research company Ipsos in 2016, 1 out of 2 U.S. consumers polled said they try to reduce sugar consumption in pursuit of a healthier diet and weight management. However, respondents said they are not prepared to completely eliminate sugar, with 58 percent indicating that taste is the reason. Reduction of added sugars is also a focus for manufacturers with upcoming new FDA guidelines requiring that “added sugars” must be displayed on the nutritional profile.

Sugar reduction presents a technical challenge because sugar has various functions, including sweetness, overall taste, texture and mouthfeel. This means that formulation expertise is required to reduce sugar while making sure that the sensory experience of the final product as well as the production process are maintained.

“Nine out of 10 consumers eat multiple times a day and yet feel guilty about enjoying their snacks,” said Jon Peters, President, BENEO, Inc. “The good news is recent technical trials at the BENEO-Technology Center show that the best of both worlds is possible. With BENEO ingredients manufacturers can reduce sugar content but maintain the indulgence of its products while also providing health benefits.”

Technical trials were conducted with chocolate chip cookies and sugar-coated cereals. Sensory and texture evaluation of the 30 percent sugar-reduced cookies with BENEO’s chicory fibers showed that taste, sweetness and crunchiness of the cookies were similar to the full sugar control version. Due to the inclusion of the natural prebiotic fibers the cookies also support a healthy digestive system and a balanced blood glucose response.

Sugar-reduced coated cereals with BENEO’s sugar replacer isomalt have a similar sweetness profile as the full-sugar control. They were non-sticky and maintained their crunchiness in milk. The cereals also had a lower blood glucose response. BENEO’s isomalt is the only sugar replacer made from sugar beet and thus has a mild, natural sweetness profile. Its low hygroscopicity and low solubility improves shelf-life and the crunchy texture of cereals.

Consumers benefit from healthier, indulgent snacks without the guilt. BENEO’s solutions for sugar reduction make foods healthier, without consumers having to change their eating habits or compromising on taste and texture.

For further information on BENEO and its ingredients, please visit: www.beneo.com and www.beneonews.com or follow BENEO on Twitter: @_BENEO or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/beneo

BENEO offers functional ingredients derived from chicory roots, beet sugar, rice and wheat. BENEO is the ideal partner to help improve a product in its nutritional and technological characteristics. Key nutritional benefits are ‘less fat’, ‘less sugar’, ‘less calories’, ‘added fiber’, ‘gluten-free’ and dairy alternatives as well as energy management, digestive, bone and dental health. Key technological benefits focus on taste and texture improvements. Through a unique chain of expertise, including the BENEO-Institute that provides decisive insights into nutrition science and legislation, and the BENEO-Technology Center that consults in application technology, BENEO actively supports customers in the development of more balanced and healthy food products.

BENEO is a division of the Südzucker Group, employs almost 900 people and has production units in Belgium, Chile, Germany and Italy.

www.BENEO.com

Media Contact: To arrange an interview at booth #4023 with one of our BENEO experts at IFT, please contact the BENEO Press Office:

Valerie Harding
Ripple Effect Communications
valerie@rippleeffectpr.com
617-536-8887

Thomas Schmidt, Marketing Director BENEO
Maximilianstraße 10, 68165 Mannheim, Germany
Email: thomas.schmidt@beneo.com
Phone: +49 621 421-151

SOURCE: BENEO

ReleaseID: 466589