People enjoying non-alcoholic beverages at a bar

Cheers to Mocktails!

Sipping Into a Clean Label Alcohol-Free Future: A Formulator’s Guide to No-Added Sugar Mocktails Summary The rapid rise of alcohol-free lifestyles is reshaping the beverage landscape, and with it comes a powerful opportunity for formulators. As traditional alcohol consumption declines and ready-to-drink mocktails surge, today’s consumers are demanding more than Read more…

Unicorn in an allulose lab

Organic Allulose Has Landed

Summary Organic allulose has officially crossed the line from industry legend to commercial reality, and with it comes a fundamental shift in what’s possible for clean-label, reduced-sugar formulation. Once considered a “unicorn” ingredient, organic allulose now delivers sugar-like performance, real bulk, clean sweetness, and negligible glycemic impact, all within a Read more…

Isomalt + Maltitol

The Polyol Pivot

Why Isomalt + Maltitol Might be your Post-Erythritol Power Couple Summary Formulators facing rising erythritol costs and shifting market sentiment are reevaluating their sweetness systems. One promising alternative is a strategic blend of isomalt and maltitol, two polyols that work together to balance sweetness, texture, and digestive tolerance. Isomalt contributes structural Read more…

Monk Fruit in a Vise

The Monk Fruit Squeeze

Why the Price of V25, V40, and V50 Keep Climbing – and How to Keep it From Murdering Your COGs Summary Monk fruit extract prices are climbing steadily across the grade spectrum, from V25 to V40 to V50, putting real pressure on formulation budgets and COGS stability. The reason isn’t Read more…

Sweetener Breakups Are Hard:

Sweetener Breakups Are Hard: Why the Industry Is Quietly Moving on from Erythritol (and What to Do Instead) Summary Erythritol hasn’t been banned, and it hasn’t stopped functioning. What’s changed is risk. Once a quiet, reliable workhorse in sugar reduction, erythritol now carries perception volatility and trade exposure that smart Read more…

Formulation Mission Control

Mission Control for Modern Formulation

How Icon Foods Steers Brands Through the New Nutrition Frontier At SCIFTS and again at EXPOWest, the food and beverage industry won’t just be trading samples and business cards—they’ll be navigating the tectonic shift that’s reshaping how products get made, labeled, and loved. With the launch of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Read more…

RTD Coffee Has Entered Its Second Act

Summary RTD coffee has moved beyond convenience and into its second act: function-first formulation. Today’s bottled brews are expected to deliver protein for satiety, fiber for balance, adaptogens for focus, and low sugar without sacrificing drinkability. But coffee is a demanding matrix, acidic, polyphenol-rich, and unforgiving when sweetness or mouthfeel Read more…

The Erythritol Reckoning: What Now for BFY Formulators?

Summary Erythritol was once the gold standard for sugar reduction—clean taste, low glycemic impact, functional bulk, and formulation flexibility. But tariffs, anti-dumping rulings, and mounting scientific scrutiny have dramatically altered its risk profile. With prices volatile and new research raising concerns about cardiovascular and metabolic implications  The Erythritol Reckoning, better-for-you Read more…