With the continued focus by American consumers on healthy eating, childhood obesity and the rising diabetes rate, sweeteners have been in the spotlight, especially where baked goods and snack foods are concerned. The trend in healthy and natural foods has created more opportunities for the development of natural sweeteners in baking and snack foods.
Technology company zuChem Inc. in Chicago works with food manufacturers to develop new sweeteners. “Natural sweeteners are a big thing,” says David Demirjian, president and CEO. “Companies are trying to come up with new, natural, high-intensity low- and no-calorie sweeteners.”