Along with trends toward natural and healthy ingredients, this growth will create big opportunities for each of several emerging alternative natural sweeteners, according to Lux Research.

It can lead to increased risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer.

U.S. consumers have indicated that sugar is the number one item they try to avoid in their diet and are eating less sugary foods and beverages.

An independent national survey shows 93% of consumers consider honey a “natural” sweetener, with 48% of those consumers saying they look for product labels that include honey.

Food and beverage companies are looking for sweetener options to satisfy consumer health without sacrificing great taste. Cargill's answer to this: EverSweet next-generation zero calorie sweetener.

Sweet potato juice concentrate (SPJC) offers product developers the opportunity to add the health and functional attributes of sweet potatoes to many applications.

Celanese Corporation will use Food Ingredients Europe 2015 in Paris, France, will share its vision for innovation, quality and supplier responsibility in the high intensity sweetener and food preservative industry. Celanese also will showcase two new formulations in its Qorus® Sweetener System portfolio.

Companies looking for flexible flavor options can now use Zerose® erythritol at up to 1.25% in select beverage categories and label the ingredient as “Natural Flavor.”

Diet Pepsi, without aspartame, will hit U.S. shelves this week. MarketResearch.com offers users access to Packaged Facts' report, Sugar, Sugar Substitute, and Sweetener Trends in the U.S., 4th Edition. The report examines how consumers' awareness of possible ill effects of sugar affects their consumption habits.