The Frost & Sullivan research service entitled Strategic Analysis of U.S. Intense Sweeteners Market provides an insight into the low calorie ingredients that are driving the growth of low calorie foods and beverages, along with an overview of the drivers and restraints that control the market. Market forecasts and key trends have also been provided for individual segments. In this research service, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine the following markets: Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Saccharin, Sucralose, and Others.
Market Sectors
Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following market sectors in this research:
By Products:
Aspartame
Acesulfame-K
Saccharin
Sucralose
Others
Technologies
The following technologies are covered in this research :
Aspartame: Aspartame is one of the widely used intense sweeteners in the world. It is a nutritive sweetener, that is around 200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame is widely used in food and beverage applications and also as a table top sweetener. It tastes similar to sugar and also enhances the flavor of certain foods such as fruit products.Aspartame is unstable at high temperatures and therefore not applicable in baking and other processes, which use a high temperature range.
Saccharin: Saccharin is the oldest intense sweetener that is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is a non-nutritive sweetener, which is widely used in food and beverage applications. Saccharin leaves a bitter aftertaste when consumed in higher quantities. Hence, it is used in combination with other sweeteners to prevent the aftertaste. However, it is stable when heated and has a long shelf life.
Sucralose: Sucralose was developed by McNeils Nutritionals and Tate & Lyle. It is a non-nutritive sweetener, which is 600 times sweeter than sugar. Sucralose easily dissolves in water and is stable at high temperatures. It finds applications in low calorie food and beverage products and also as a table top sweetener. Sucralose also exhibits synergistic effects when combined with other sweeteners.
Acesulfame Potassium: Acesulfame potassium, commonly referred to as Acesulfame K or Ace K, was discovered in 1967. It is 200 times sweeter than sugar. Acesulfame K is a non-nutritive sweetener, which is widely used in low calorie food and beverage applications. Similar to saccharin, Acesulfame K also has a bitter aftertaste and enhances the flavor of certain foods.
Neotame: Neotame is the latest sweetener to be approved for use in the United States. It is a highly intense, non-nutritive sweetener,that is 8,000 times sweeter than sugar. It was developed by The Nutrasweet Company and represents the next generation of low calorie sweeteners. Neotame has a pleasant taste, has a high degree of stability, and also enhances flavor of the food products.
Market Overview
Increasing Incidence of Diabetes and Obesity Drives the Consumption of Low Calorie Foods and Beverages
Changing lifestyles and increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity are serving to bring about the marked change in the food habits of the general U.S population. Health conscious consumers are now showing a noticeable preference for low calorie food products and this has lead to low calorie sweeteners gaining much popularity in recent times. Innovations in the sugar free and low sugar food and beverages have also been instrumental in the growth of the intense sweetener market in the United States, especially with more than 3,000 new low calorie foods and beverages being launched in the market since 2002. Besides, intense sweeteners do not promote tooth decay unlike conventional sugars such as sucrose, leading to their increasing use, particularly saccharin, in toothpastes, and mouth washes.
However, the growing preference for foods and beverages that contain natural additives is a major restraining factor for the intense sweetener market. As intense sweeteners are synthetically derived, the preference for organic products impedes the growth of the market. "Natural foods and beverages have recorded impressive growth in recent times and consumers are showing a preference toward the use of polyols and natural sweeteners such as Stevia® rather than intense sweeteners," notes the analyst of this research service. "An added challenge lies in safety concerns over intense sweetners with contrasting media reports and articles scrutinizing the ill effects of the long-term consumption of intense sweeteners. For instance, aspartame was found to cause brain tumor in rats."
Sucralose Gaining Popularity
Among the product segments, aspartame currently holds the largest share of the total U.S. intense sweeteners market. In 2005, revenues generated from aspartame represented 48.4 percent of the total U.S. intense sweeteners market, but are expected to decrease to 34.7 percent by 2012, due to increased competition and price pressures. Revenues for Acesulfame-K and saccharin are also expected to decrease over the forecast period due to the increasing popularity of sucralose. As such, sucralose is forecast to have a very strong growth, and is likely to account for as much as 40.2 percent of the market in 2012, growing from its present share of 25.4 percent.
In respect to application trends, beverages account for more than 65.0 percent of the consumption of intense sweetners. The remaining 35.0 percent of intense sweeteners are used in other applications such as tabletop sweeteners, low-calorie confectionery, baked foods, ice creams, and dairy products." In order to maximize market potential, it is imperative that the intense sweetener manufacturers invest substantially in addressing the safety concerns of consumers," says the analyst. "Working closely with the food and drug administration (FDA), health organizations, and research institutes to establish the safety of intense sweeteners could prove particularly beneficial, as endorsements by these groups will enhance the perception of consumers and encourage them to use low calorie foods and beverages."
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