天然吸引力
甜叶菊/罗汉果
健康代糖
无糖也甜
01
健康代糖 — 莱茵有话说
随着全球消费者对更健康的代糖需求不断增加，以及制造商为了避免因使用蔗糖而被额外征税，降低糖分依然是食品和饮料配方中的重要主题。桂林莱茵生物科技股份有限公司美国子公司总裁Elaine Yu表示，随着减糖努力的增加，行业将继续看到以甜叶菊和罗汉果为基础的甜味剂的强势存在和新产品的不断推出。她告诉Food Ingredients First：“由于当今市场趋势关注于天然的、植物性的、和洁净标签成分，我们相信甜叶菊和罗汉果是满足所有这些标准的最具吸引力的甜味剂。”
Sugar reduction remains a key theme in food and beverage formulation, with global consumers increasing demand for healthier alternatives and manufacturers avoiding sugar taxes. According to Elaine Yu, President at Layn USA, as sugar reduction efforts grow, industry will continue to see a strong presence and new product launches of stevia- and monk fruit-based sweeteners. "With today’s trend and market focus on natural, plant-based, and clean label ingredients, we believe stevia and monk fruit are the most appealing sweeteners that meet these criteria." she tells FoodIngredientsFirst.
02
甜叶菊为例，天然代糖优势
甜叶菊在甜味剂领域中一直处于领先地位。天然甜味剂可与食品和饮料领域的其他调味剂一起使用。对于那些想要使用高甜度、零卡路里、并具有天然和洁净特性的甜味剂的食品制造商而言，最近法规批准可以在食品和饮料产品中使用甜菊糖是一个利好消息。那些希望用甜味剂减少或替代在配方或应用中摄入的糖分的制造商和消费者们，不仅要找到一种和蔗糖甜味相当的，而且在味道和口感上更像蔗糖的甜味剂。
Stevia has been leading the way in the sweetener space for some time. The natural sweetener works with other flavors in the food and beverage sector. Recent regulatory approval for the use of stevia in food and beverage products has been a win for food manufacturers who want to utilize the high-intensity, zero-calorie sweetener with natural and clean attributes. Manufacturers and consumers who are looking for sweeteners to reduce or remove sugar in a formulation or application intake are not only looking for a sweetness that sugar manifests but also taste and mouthfeel which offers a more sugar-like taste profile.
（图片素材源自网络 若侵权请联系）
根据Innova Market Insights的“2018年消费者生活方式和态度调查报告”，在接受调查的分属以下国家（美国、英国、法国、德国、中国和巴西）的消费者中，有近十分之七的消费者已经减少了糖分的摄入量。那些追求低卡路里的消费者正在寻找天然的或营养性的代糖，而不是那些人造甜味剂。
According to Innova Market Insights" Consumer Lifestyle and Attitudes Survey 2018", nearly seven out of ten consumers across the countries surveyed (US, UK, France, Germany, China and Brazil) have reduced their sugar intake. Consumers seeking low-calorie solutions are looking for natural or nutritious substitutes rather than artificial sweeteners.
（图片素材源自网络 若侵权请联系）
03
高竞争力代糖产品
Elaine Yu
市面上有很多代糖产品，它们彼此相互竞争。但是，当谈到高甜度、植物性的、零卡路里的、获得美国食品和药物管理局（FDA）批准的、普遍公认安全（GRAS）的，并具有商业规模和可持续供应的甜味剂时，到目前为止，选择仍然只是甜叶菊、罗汉果、和其组合产品。
There are a lot of sugar substitutes available to the market and they compete with each other. However, when it comes to sweeteners that are highly intense, plant-based, non-caloric, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS), with commercial scale and a sustainable supply, so far the choices are still just stevia and monk fruit and combinations thereof.
Elaine Yu
甜叶菊叶提取物有一些新品种，例如具有更佳口味的次要甜菊糖苷，他们可以进一步改善甜叶菊甜味剂的整体口感。莱茵期望获得更多采用和市场成功。罗汉果浓缩汁在许多应用中受到越来越多的欢迎。
There are new varieties of stevia leaf extract, such as better tasting minor steviol glycosides, which continue to improve the overall taste profile of stevia. Layn expects to gain more adoption and market success. Monk Fruit Juice Concentrate is also growing in popularity for many applications as well.
Elaine Yu
饮料、乳制品、桌面糖和烘培类的应用必将从天然甜味剂中受益最多。我们还在运动类和活性营养类产品中，看到天然甜味剂随着蛋白粉、蛋白饮料和蛋白棒一起显着增长
Beverage, dairy, table top and bakery applications are bound to benefit most from natural sweeteners, we also see significant growth in the sports and active nutrition category, with protein powders, drinks and bars.
天然甜味剂之所以对制造商和消费者具有吸引力是基于其植物性、天然和洁净的标签。Elaine Yu补充说：“我们不断地看到其增长的需求，并且天然甜味剂新产品在世界越来越多的地区被推出上市。”
The claims which make them appealing to both manufacturers and consumers are plant-based, natural and clean label, Yu adds. “We continue to see increased demand and therefore, new launches with natural sweeteners, and in more regions around the world as well.”
与人造甜味剂相比，天然甜味剂的性能在不同的应用中会有所不同，所以在各种终端产品中使用天然甜味剂肯定会有更多的挑战。她解释说：“基于用量，天然甜味剂的价格现在比蔗糖更具竞争力。然而，天然甜味剂仍然比人造甜味剂昂贵。”
Natural sweeteners’ performance varies in different applications, compared with synthetic sweeteners, there are definitely more challenges in using them in various finished products. "Price is now more competitive with sugar, based on usage level. However, natural sweeteners are still more expensive than artificial sweeteners." she explains.
莱茵对从育苗准备到种植管理的农业领域进行了大量投资。Elaine Yu指出：“例如，当和我们有合同关系的合作农户收到我们内部育种计划培养的幼苗后，他们将接受我们标准化栽培过程的培训。”
Layn heavily invests in agriculture from seedling preparation to farming management. "For example, once our contracted co-op groups are provided with seedlings developed from our in-house breeding programs, they are trained in our standardized cultivation process." Yu notes.
“为确保最优质的农作物，我们监控农艺作业的每个阶段 - 从播种到收获再到干燥。我们紧密管理的种植合作伙伴关系和支持文件证明了莱茵产品的完整可追溯性 - 从育苗到种植再到成品。借助于莱茵的垂直整合结构，全球客户可以追踪到莱茵供应链中的所有成分和工艺流程，从而确保了真正的透明度和可见性。”
"To ensure the highest quality crops, we monitor every stage of the agronomy operation – from planting and harvesting to drying. Our closely managed farming partnerships and supporting documentation are proof of Layn’s full traceability – from seedling, to field, to finished product. With Layn’s vertically integrated structure, global customers can trace all ingredients and processes along the supply chain, guaranteeing true transparency and visibility."
Elaine Yu最后总结说：“这使得我们具备能够快速扩大生产规模以满足不断增长的全球需求的能力。”
"This approach allows us the ability to quickly scale-up production to meet spiking global demand." Yu concludes.
(Elizabeth Green |Apr 07, 2020 | Food Ingredients 1st)
