Erythritol market is gaining immense traction owing to increasing production of the product across the globe. Erythritol acts as an artificial sweetener which is generally used in sugar free and low sugar-based foods. It is designed specifically to replace sugar as well calories to create results that are diet friendly.
It is produced by fermentation from sugar derived from corn namely dextrose. People with diabetes manage their condition by following a diet which is low in sugar. Erythritol plays an important role by making it easier for people to stick to low-sugar diets by replacing sugar without the need of sacrificing sweetness.
The safety of erythritol has been reviewed as well as confirmed by health authorities across the globe. For instance, WHO confirmed its safety back in 1999. The United States FDA also recognized as erythritol as safe in 2001. Erythritol is only of 60-80% sweet and due to lack of calories it is considered unique among sugar alcohols. Two areas where erythritol is considered to have shown positive results are blood sugar and oral health.
Erythritol is has two forms namely powdered form and granular form. The powdered form sweeteners bake in a way almost similar to sugar and are made by combining as well as fermenting some natural sugars. Corn is commonly used to make sweetener, which can also be found in other foods such as pears, watermelon, and grapes.
They are also found in fermented foods like cheese and soy sauce, and in fermented beverages which includes beer, sake, and wine. According to FDA it is classified as carbohydrate, and apart from adding sweetness to foods it gives texture and bulk. The sweetener further prevents dryness and browning issues.
Erythritol apart from being a natural sweetener in food products has several other applications. It is used in beverages such as frozen beverages, smoothies, sports drinks, soy-based beverages, diet soft drinks, iced teas, flavored waters & milks. Other beverages include carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, and dairy drinks.
It is used in health and personal care products like hair care, oral care, soap & bath products, deodorants, skin care, and color cosmetics. Erythritol has pharmaceutical use as well, it is used in liquid dosage forms, medicated chewing gum, medicated confectionery and solid dosage forms such as diluting in wet granulation, coating agent, lozenges, and tablets. In addition, erythritol is also used in agriculture or poultry or animal feed.
The erythritol market is segmented in terms of form, application, and regional landscape.
Based on application, the market is bifurcated into pharmaceuticals, beverages, personal care, bakery, dairy, confectionery, and others. Other applications of erythritol include tabletop application, applications in pet food, and industrial applications such as in latent heat storage & hygroscopicity control.
From a regional frame of reference, with the growth of global consumption level and health awareness, the erythritol market is expected to witness significant growth in Latin American countries. The MEA Erythritol market is likely to grow with CAGR of over 6.5% owing to rising disposable income and changing perceptions towards the use of high calorie traditional sugar.