“Sweet” is one of the five basic tastes, which also includes salt, sour, bitter, and umami. Many people crave sweet foods, but at the same time, consumers are more mindful of sugar in their diet.

An expert from the company outlines trends in sweeteners, and how producers can deliver.

The products are aimed at helping snack and bakery producers develop items with less sugar.

The number of product launches tracked by Innova Market Insights so far in 2012 containing one or more natural sweeteners including agave syrup/nectar, palm sugar, Stevia and monk fruit has more than tripled compared to the same time frame in 2009.