Currently, low-calorie or diet soft drinks, along with various other beverages and food items, are sweetened with a variety of low-calorie sweeteners, including saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucrolase, stevia, neotame, alitame, and cyclamate.
Low-calorie sweeteners include those with reduced energy value (polyols) or zero energy value (intensive sweeteners). Intensive sweeteners have high sweetness potency and do not contribute to energy value due to the minimal amount required for the desired taste.
Marketed as healthier substitutes for sugar-sweetened beverages, low-calorie soft drinks aim to quench thirst and satisfy the natural craving for sweetness with minimal caloric impact. However, ongoing discussions revolve around their impact on diet quality, weight management, and cardiometabolic biomarkers.
The demand for products with lower sugar content is increasing among consumers. In response, beverage companies are actively reducing sugar levels in their products to meet consumer preferences for lower-calorie options. This shift is emphasized by the phased implementation of the new Nutrition Facts label, which mandates the disclosure of added sugars content.
Low calories soft drinks - Sugar challenges & alternatives
