The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data
Reducing added sugars in non-alcoholic beverages is an important public health goal, which can result in increased use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS). The aim of this study was to investigate recent changes in the use of LNCS in non-alcoholic beverages in the Slovenian food supply. The nat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.778178/full |
| _version_ | 1819040714453942272 |
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| author | Edvina Hafner Edvina Hafner Igor Pravst Igor Pravst Igor Pravst |
| author_facet | Edvina Hafner Edvina Hafner Igor Pravst Igor Pravst Igor Pravst |
| author_sort | Edvina Hafner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reducing added sugars in non-alcoholic beverages is an important public health goal, which can result in increased use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS). The aim of this study was to investigate recent changes in the use of LNCS in non-alcoholic beverages in the Slovenian food supply. The national branded foods dataset was updated with beverages available in 2020, and compared with previous datasets. The data were extracted from food labels. In 2020, N = 1,650 unique beverages were found in shops from five different retailers, covering the majority of the national market. The use of LNCS increased from 13.2% in 2017 and 15.5% in 2019 to 20.2% in 2020, with a major growth in soft drinks (16.8, 19.6, and 26.7%, respectively). We observed a significant growth of beverages containing both LNCS and added sugar. Results were also consistent with sales data, which showed that increased offer of beverages with LNCS also resulted in similarly increased sales of such beverages. The average energy and total sugar content in non-alcoholic beverages decreased, which reflects both the higher percentage of beverages with LNCS, and also the reduction of the sugar content in beverages with only added sugar. Analyses of product-specific reformulation practices highlighted reduced sugar content in 16.8% of products, and in 3.6% with the use of LNCS. The most commonly used LNCS are acesulfame K, sucralose, and aspartame. Typically, combinations are used, however steviol glycosides, sucralose and saccharin are also used alone, in most cases combined with added sugar. The results indicated rapid changes in the use of LNCS in non-alcoholic beverages in the Slovenian food supply, making further monitoring of this area highly relevant. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:13:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de7aaa215fcc4fbf9d6635a8e3ffebfd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:13:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-de7aaa215fcc4fbf9d6635a8e3ffebfd2022-12-21T19:09:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2021-11-01810.3389/fnut.2021.778178778178The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 DataEdvina Hafner0Edvina Hafner1Igor Pravst2Igor Pravst3Igor Pravst4Nutrition Institute, Nutrition and Public Health Research Group, Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaNutrition Institute, Nutrition and Public Health Research Group, Ljubljana, SloveniaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SloveniaVIST–Higher School of Applied Sciences, Ljubljana, SloveniaReducing added sugars in non-alcoholic beverages is an important public health goal, which can result in increased use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS). The aim of this study was to investigate recent changes in the use of LNCS in non-alcoholic beverages in the Slovenian food supply. The national branded foods dataset was updated with beverages available in 2020, and compared with previous datasets. The data were extracted from food labels. In 2020, N = 1,650 unique beverages were found in shops from five different retailers, covering the majority of the national market. The use of LNCS increased from 13.2% in 2017 and 15.5% in 2019 to 20.2% in 2020, with a major growth in soft drinks (16.8, 19.6, and 26.7%, respectively). We observed a significant growth of beverages containing both LNCS and added sugar. Results were also consistent with sales data, which showed that increased offer of beverages with LNCS also resulted in similarly increased sales of such beverages. The average energy and total sugar content in non-alcoholic beverages decreased, which reflects both the higher percentage of beverages with LNCS, and also the reduction of the sugar content in beverages with only added sugar. Analyses of product-specific reformulation practices highlighted reduced sugar content in 16.8% of products, and in 3.6% with the use of LNCS. The most commonly used LNCS are acesulfame K, sucralose, and aspartame. Typically, combinations are used, however steviol glycosides, sucralose and saccharin are also used alone, in most cases combined with added sugar. The results indicated rapid changes in the use of LNCS in non-alcoholic beverages in the Slovenian food supply, making further monitoring of this area highly relevant.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.778178/fulllow-and no-calorie sweetenersbeveragesreformulationadded sugarfood compositiondatabase |
| spellingShingle | Edvina Hafner Edvina Hafner Igor Pravst Igor Pravst Igor Pravst The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data Frontiers in Nutrition low-and no-calorie sweeteners beverages reformulation added sugar food composition database |
| title | The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data |
| title_full | The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data |
| title_fullStr | The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data |
| title_short | The Sharp Rise in the Use of Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Non-Alcoholic Beverages in Slovenia: An Update Based on 2020 Data |
| title_sort | sharp rise in the use of low and no calorie sweeteners in non alcoholic beverages in slovenia an update based on 2020 data |
| topic | low-and no-calorie sweeteners beverages reformulation added sugar food composition database |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.778178/full |
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