While zero-calorie stevia leaf extract can help replace the sweet taste, it does not account for the loss of bulk or functionality. This is where the company turns to erythritol, a natural, zero-calorie bulk sweetener, or chicory root fiber. “Chicory root fiber is a useful bulking agent in reduced-sugar applications, and pairs well with stevia leaf extract and erythritol. Because it resists digestion, chicory root fiber adds bulk to a product with half the calories of fully digestible carbohydrates. In addition, chicory root fiber acts very similar to sugar in functionality. Many bulking agents result in finished products with a crisper or firmer texture, but chicory root fiber more closely mimics the texture of its full-sugar counterparts, contributing browning, crumb development, and more,” states Christensen.
Sugarcane sweetening
International Molasses—a sister company to Malt Products Corp., Saddle Brook, NJ—recently expanded its portfolio of CaneRite sugarcane molasses-based sweeteners. “The product line comprises a wide-ranging light-to-dark flavor profile with reassuring label-friendliness, eliminating the need for overly processed sugars like high-fructose corn syrup or other ‘red flag’ ingredients like artificial sweeteners,” says Amy Targan, president, Malt Products Corp. “Molasses is rich in antioxidants and is formulation-friendly, serving food manufacturers not only as a subtle sweetener, but a natural colorant, humectant, and shelf-life extender.” The products are available in non-GMO and organic varieties and can be used in a variety of baked goods, such as cookies, bread, bagels, dinner rolls, and tortillas.