An obstacle for many beverage manufacturers is the altered mouthfeel and compromised flavor that comes with making deep calorie reductions, according to WFSI.
“We are using our flavor know how to round off the mouthfeel,” Jochen Heininger, VP of marketing for WFSI, told BeverageDaily at drinktec 2017.
Full-sugar sensory appeal
Highlighted at drinktec was the SweetUp 4D system, a suite of advanced, application-specific sweetening solutions designed and optimized for taste and mouthfeel, specifically for beverage manufacturers looking to achieve calorie reductions of 40% or more, WFSI said.
And because consumers are leaning towards more natural beverage ingredients, WFSI offers a variety of plant- and fruit-based sweeteners under the SweetUp 4D system.
WFSI introduced new sweetening blends including a steviol glycoside of RebA80 designed to create a well-balanced flavor.
FruitUp, a sweetener derived from a mixture of fruit, was also highlighted at drinktec. The fruit-based sweetener is created through a physical extraction process of the fruit rather than with enzymes or chemical additives. Depending on the country’s law they can claim it as a fruit extract in the ingredient deck, Heininger said.
The fruit-based sweetener is a combination of carbohydrates suitable for sports drinks as well as “near-water” concepts, beverages with fruit, and tea drinks, according to WFSI.
“It has a little bit of calories but less than full sugar, but it’s very good to combine FruitUp, for example, with stevia,” Heininger said. “It’s a combination that harmonizes very well.”
In order to achieve a rounded mouthfeel with reduced-calorie beverages, WFSI offers Fibersol, a soluble fiber ingredient.
“You can cut down the calories by 56% with some compromises, but not many compromises in taste,” Heininger said. “The ‘shininess’ of the color also contributes to the overall sensory perception,” Heininger added.
Fiber drink innovation
Along with reduced calories and sugar content consumers are also looking for ways to incorporate more fiber into their diets, according to WFSI. The company has created a concept called “yourBalance” for the still-drink category to fulfill both demands.
The new concept has 30% fewer calories and is enriched with Fibersol. Using Fibersol means that beverage manufacturers can highlight added-value nutrition to their products including EFSA-certified health claims such as “contributes to a balanced blood glucose level”, WFSI said.
“With our applications we can adapt, more or less, to every beverage category,” Heininger said.