At this year’s ISM trade fair leading functional ingredients manufacturer, BENEO, will showcase and sample the first toffees with its functional carbohydrate, Palatinose™. The new product concept has been created to offer consumers a healthier toffee alternative. It replaces more than 30% of the high glycaemic sugars contained in a standard toffee recipe, supporting a lower blood glucose response.
The increasing global focus on healthy nutrition means that more and more consumers are searching for guilt-free indulgence. However, market research has shown that for many this still remains a challenge: one third (31%) of European consumers, always or most of the time, feel guilty when they are snacking¹. Half of German consumers and nearly two thirds of consumers in Spain, Poland and France agreeing that there aren’t enough healthy sweets available².
The team of experts at the BENEO-Technology Center decided to create a healthier toffee supporting a lower blood glucose response as alternative to existing toffee products on the market which can contain up to 65% of high glycaemic sugars. The toffee and fudge category show continued growth: it has increased faster worldwide than the overall confectionery category in the past five years, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% compared to 0.9%³. This development is expected to continue, demonstrating an opportunity for confectionery producers looking to develop healthier alternatives.
Thomas Schmidt, Marketing Director at BENEO comments: “Traditionally toffees conjure up pure indulgence and nostalgia but at the same time a relatively unhealthy image for consumers. However, the new toffees with Palatinose™ that BENEO presents at ISM preserve the traditionally creamy-sweet taste and the pleasant bite and mouthfeel of their traditional counterparts. But they have a significantly better nutritional profile, with a lower blood glucose response. This is BENEO’s answer to growing consumers interest in “better carbs” and their wish to balance blood sugar levels whilst enjoying an indulgent treat.”
Palatinose™ (isomaltulose) is derived from sugar beet and has similar technological properties as sucrose. With its mild sugar-like taste it allows flavours other than sweetness to dominate, making it well suited for sweet snacks. Palatinose™ has received EU health claims for being toothfriendly and lowering the blood glucose response. The functional carbohydrate is fully, yet slowly released, and provides glucose in a sustained manner. This ensures that blood sugar levels stay balanced.
Those attending the show can sample the new toffees at the BENEO booth: 10.2G77.
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Sources:
¹Health Focus International 2018, Global Trend Study
²Mintel 2017
³Innova 2018