Is sweet potato juice the next big ‘healthy’ sweetener?
Image: Business Wire
A United States company has launched a new sweetener made from sweet potato, pitching it as a “clean label” replacement for high fructose corn syrup and honey.
Released by Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients (CIFI), the company says its ‘Carolina Sweet’ sweetener “embraces the health halo surrounding sweet potato”.
CIFI state testing results show the sweetener has higher levels of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium than other natural sweeteners.
“As today’s consumers are seeking healthier options, product developers are in need of reliable ingredients to meet that demand. Carolina Sweet satisfies both parties,” said John Kimber, CIFI Chief Operating Officer.
CIFI was established with the main aim of producing new products using sweet potatoes from North Carolina, “America’s sweet potato country”.
Making the most of the sweet potato health trend
According to NPR, in 2015, the United States grew more sweet potatoes than it did in any year since World War II. Fad diets that label sweet potato as a “super food” have been attributed to the increasing popular of the vegetable.
Sweet potatoes have also become a popular health food in Australia with Nielsen reporting that for the 12 months ended 14 May 2016, the sweet potato category in Australia increased 21 per cent on the prior 12 months. This was seven times higher than the total vegetable growth rate.
Close to seven in 10 Australian households purchased sweet potatoes within the measured 12-month period, an increase of 436, 000 more households on the prior 12-months.
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