Every day, the average American consumes around three times the amount of sugar recommended by the World Health Organization, according to Rutgers University.
Now, Nestlé has found a “cost-effective sugar reduction technology,” to help cut down on the substance, said a July 14 press release from the company. Nestlé is known as the manufacturer of sugar treats such as Tollhouse Cookies.
Its new sugar reduction method was first piloted in cocoa and malt-based ready-to-drink beverages in Southeast Asia, per the release, and since 2021 it has been applied to 200,000 tons of product. So far, it has been released in several countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
According to the Switzerland-based company, the new technology “can be applied across different product categories, with benefits beyond sugar reduction,” and it also applies to lactose. Per the National Library of Medicine, approximately 65% of the global population has a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy. Humans need to make specific enzymes to break down lactose.
Nestlé’s patented sugar-reducing tech is also an enzymatic process. It can reduce intrinsic sugar in ingredients such as malt, milk, and fruit juices by up to 30%, “with a minimal impact on taste and texture,” said the company. These reduced-sugar ingredients can then also be used in recipes and products.
“There is no need to add sweeteners or bulking agents to replace the volume of the eliminated sugar,” said Nestlé. When it is applied to milk-based products, the method also reportedly increases prebiotic fibers, and “first clinical studies have shown that these fibers can support the growth of multiple types of beneficial bacteria leading to a favorable microbiome composition in healthy adults.”
Nestlé Chief Technology Officer Stefan Palzer said that sugar reduction is a top priority for the company. According to the release, it also wants to improve the overall nutrition quality of its products.
“We are now accelerating the global roll-out across formats and categories,” Palzer said of the new technology.
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