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The high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) discussed in this report include saccharin,
cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose, stevioside, glycyrrhizin, alitame
and neotame.
World consumption of high-intensity sweeteners amounted to 75 thousand metric
tons in 2002. Beverages account for the majority of consumption, followed by
food, tabletop sweeteners, personal care products and pharmaceuticals.
Saccharin is the most commonly consumed HIS, both in terms of actual volume
and sucrose sweetness equivalent volume. Cyclamate is the second-largest HIS
consumed globally in terms of actual volume, but accounts for only 4.4% in terms
of sucrose sweetness equivalent volume, a result of its lower intensity. Saccharin
and cyclamate are the lowest-cost HIS available, and therefore enjoy wide use
in nearly all markets; the notable exceptions for cyclamate are the United States
and Japan, where it is banned. Asia, including Japan, accounted for 52% of world
saccharin consumption and 49% of world cyclamate consumption in 2002. North
America accounted for 62% of world aspartame consumption in 2002; the United
States is the largest market for aspartame.
Although regional differences in food tastes and preferences exist, the major
trends driving the HIS market appear to be similar in most regions:
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Concern over health and nutrition and health consciousness. Growing concern
regarding obesity and the connection between diet and major diseases has
caused consumers to reexamine their diets and lifestyles and seek healthier
alternatives.
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The continuing use of sweetener blends (HIS blends with either nonnutritive
or nutritive sweeteners) to obtain the most desirable taste, sweetness onset
(i.e., as intensity and duration), stability to heat and acids, and cost.
Use of HIS blends has increased in food and beverages and has proved popular
with consumers looking for a better tasting diet beverage or food.
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The substitution of sucrose with HIS, mainly for cost reduction, has increased,
particularly in developing regions. The lowest-cost HIS, cyclamate and saccharin
and its salts, account for most HIS consumption in many developing markets,
such as Asia (excluding Japan), Africa and Central and South America, partly
because they are being used increasingly for sucrose substitution.
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