Dive Brief:
- High potency sweeteners such as agave syrup are on trend as natural alternatives to cane sugar. The syrup has a low glycemic index, and is 1.3 times sweeter than sugar, which sweetens with lower carbohydrates when compared to sugar, according to Food Ingredients First.
- Officials from Mexico’s Best Ground, whose products include agave syrup, are developing new, healthier sweeteners from a diverse base of sources. The sweeteners come from fruits, flowers and sources of starch. New products include organic tapioca syrup, agavioca (tapioca and agave syrup) syrup, and organic rice syrup among others.
- The company is expanding its roster to continue supplying functional ingredients. Expansion activities include supplying ingredients that are native to Mexico, such as teff seeds and chia seeds, which are high in nutrients. Teff is the world’s smallest grain but is high in fiber and low in fat and sodium.
Dive Insight:
Best Ground is among companies innovating with agave. Nature’s Agave LLC offers an organic sweetener with organic stevia and organic agave, combined with the benefits of probiotics.
The popularity of agave nectar continues to grow as more flavored options are being introduced for specific uses, according to a Packaged Facts consumer survey on sugar and sweeteners. The survey found 41% of consumers had increased their use of agave over the last year or two.
The report also found that while consumers consider agave to be more healthful than other options, the product has faced some backlash from health professionals — such as over concerns of its high fructose content, for example.