New research shows that sugar seen as “friend AND foe”

New quantitative consumer research commissioned by functional ingredients manufacturer BENEO shows that consumers perceive sugar as both a ‘friend and foe’ in their nutrition. The results also underline that sugar and carbohydrates play a key role in consumer behaviour when dealing with health concerns.

More than 5000 consumers across five European countries[i] were surveyed on their perception of sugar, carbohydrates and nutrition, with regard to blood glucose response.

Consumers see carbohydrates as key in health issues

The results show that consumer health concerns in order of importance are weight management (43%), fatigue or low energy (36%) and stress (35%). Consumers are aware that the amount and type of sugars, as well as carbohydrates in general, play a major role in coping with these health issues.

Consumers’ main motivation for sugar reduction in their nutrition was because of its negative effects on their health. 58% of those respondents who wanted to eat less sugar said that their major driver was to control their weight. Also, the detrimental long-term effects of sugar consumption such as diabetes were a concern, being mentioned by nearly one out of three consumers who were trying to cut their sugar intake.

Although wanting to reduce the amount of sugar consumed, respondents were not prepared to forego the feeling of sugar-like indulgence: 60% said that they ate sugar because they liked the taste and one out of three participants (33%) responded that sugar improved their overall mood.

Consumers increasingly differentiate between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ carbohydrates

Despite consumers seeing the benefits of less sugar intake, they also recognised that carbohydrates are the major energy source for body and brain. 46% of respondents stated that the main reason they consumed carbohydrates was that they “give energy”. At the same time, consumers are starting to differentiate between different types of carbohydrate, with more than one out of two participants making a distinction between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ carbohydrates.

Wholegrain, fibre, complex carbohydrates and slow-release carbohydrates were seen as ‘good’; with 51% of respondents regarding slow-release carbohydrates as generally better and 60% linking slow-release carbohydrates with sustained energy.

Choosing ingredients such as the slow release carbohydrate Palatinose™ (isomaltulose), the chicory root fibres Orafti® Inulin and Oligofructose, or the sugar replacer ISOMALT, can help manufacturers to meet consumer demand for alternatives that support healthy weight and energy management. These functional ingredients are naturally derived from beet sugar and chicory root. Having a mild sweet taste they help meet consumer desire for sugar-like indulgence, while improving the nutritional profile by reducing high glycaemic sugars and/or calorie count. BENEO has received positive EFSA opinions for the blood glucose lowering properties of its dietary fibres oligofructose and inulin, as well as for the unique slow release carbohydrate Palatinose™ and the sugar replacer ISOMALT with corresponding health claim approvals.

Gudrun Dold, Consumer Insights Manager at BENEO: “The research results show that sugar and carbohydrates play a decisive role in daily nutrition. Although consumers want to eat less sugar, they do not want to sacrifice that all important sugar-like taste and indulgence. Consumers are also beginning to distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ carbohydrates, making it even more important for producers to consider the quality of the carbohydrates used, when developing game-changing food and drink products for every lifestyle and age group.”