If a big brand like Capri Sun, made by a behemoth like Kraft Heinz, can reformulate to slash added sugars, it may inspire other CPG makers to look at alternative sweeteners. Some products are designed using alternative sweeteners, while others are reformulated in stealth, where consumers don’t necessarily know that changes have been made.īut a large-scale and widely announced reformulation of one of the top-selling juice box brands brings much more attention to what has been done and why. While a statement said Capri Sun made this change in response to parents’ concerns about sugar in kids’ juice boxes - a huge stumbling block for the segment - this reformulation has a wider impact on the juice market and CPG products as a whole. Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio said in prepared remarks accompanying Wednesday morning’s earnings report that the shift to monk fruit also makes Kraft Heinz less subject to volatile sugar markets, which is important as inflation and supply chain issues drive prices up.
According to Monk Fruit Corp., the sweetener can be found in more than 2,000 CPG products, including gelato and coffee drinks. Monk fruit can have an aftertaste that is reminiscent of a melon rind, and is often used in combination with other natural sweeteners, including stevia, allulose and erythritol, to make a blend that is more palatable. It stays stable under heat, and can be used in baked products, though on its own it is most often an addition to beverages. Several monk fruit-derived sweeteners have generally recognized as safe status from the FDA, and the ingredient is available both to consumers as well as in food products. The sweetener has zero calories, does not promote tooth decay and is safe for people with diabetes to consume. Monk fruit sweeteners are 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar, so much less is needed, according to the International Food Information Council.
Monk fruit is native to China and is intensely sweet.
The revamped juice pouches are slated to hit shelves in August with packaging that highlights their lower sugar content compared to other kid-targeted juice boxes. According to images of Nutrition Facts panels for various varieties of Capri Sun, those that are not 100% juice can have as much as 13 grams of sugar with 11 grams added.Ī monk fruit-sweetened version takes this down to an average of 8 total grams of sugars with 5 grams added, according to Kraft Heinz. In many Capri Sun varieties that are not 100% juice, sugar is the second listed ingredient, right behind water. Fruits themselves are packed with natural sugars, and 100% fruit juice can have the same sugar content as soda. No matter how it’s formulated, fruit juice is often a sugary beverage choice.
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