Stevia is basically a natural sweetener which is used as a substitute for sugar and is derived from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana which are mostly grown in Brazil and Paraguay. The active compounds present are the steviol glycosides which makes stevia 30 to 150 times sweeter than sugar along with being heat-stable, pH stable, and not fermentable.
INCREASING CONSUMER INCLINATION TOWARD NATURAL SWEETENERS
With the increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity worldwide, consumers are progressively shifting toward natural sweetening products. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, 641 million people will have diabetes by 2040, rising from 415 million in 2015. Obesity is a prevalent disease that leads to diabetes along with other chronic diseases such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk, and retinopathy. The authorities across the world are focusing on a healthier lifestyle, which includes a reduction in the number of calories consumed, especially added sugar. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended a decrease in added sugars in the daily lifestyle. To lower the amount of sugar intake, consumers prefer natural sweeteners such as stevia, which helps in weight management by reducing added sugar and calories. Along with this, in Europe, consumers are increasingly consuming products having no added sugar. According to the 2020 New Nutrition Business survey, two-thirds of European consumers are trying to lower their sugar intake due to the increasing rate of obesity and diabetes, which has led to an increased demand for stevia in Europe. Thus, an increase in consumer inclination toward natural sweeteners is driving the growth of the stevia market.
