Summary FibRefine™ HG—Icon Foods’ proprietary partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG)—is the unsung hero behind today’s best-performing functional foods and beverages. Unlike traditional guar gum, it dissolves clearly, resists viscosity changes, and delivers proven prebiotic benefits that support gut health, glycemic control, and cholesterol reduction. Recognized by the FDA as a Read more…
Summary Allulose is stepping into the spotlight as erythritol faces trade turbulence. With anti-dumping petitions, countervailing duties, and tariff uncertainty tightening around polyols, formulators are turning to KetoseSweet™ allulose—a rare sugar that melts cleanly into formulations, sidesteps tariff risk, and brings consistent performance. Beyond its economic edge, allulose delivers sensory and Read more…
Cracking the Code on Mouthfeel, Sweetness, and Terpene Oddities Summary As alcohol consumption declines and health-conscious consumers embrace cannabis beverages, formulators face a new challenge: creating low-sugar THC drinks that taste great without the “weed tea” effect. This white paper explores how clean-label sweeteners like allulose, monk fruit, and advanced Read more…
Summary Clean-label sugar reduction in coffee and soda syrups doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor, mouthfeel, or shelf life. In this guide, Icon Foods’ Chief Innovation Officer Thom King shares a practical roadmap for developing indulgent, low-sugar syrups that perform like traditional formulations—without the added sugar baggage. By combining allulose Read more…
A comparative analysis of top fibers in food and beverage formulations Summary Agave inulin, chicory root inulin, and soluble tapioca fiber are three powerhouse ingredients shaping today’s better-for-you food and beverage formulations. Each offers unique benefits—from agave’s mild sweetness and prebiotic support, to chicory root’s strong digestive health benefits and Read more…
Summary When it comes to sugar alternatives, sweetness is only the beginning. Food scientists and formulators working in the low-carb, keto, and clean-label space know that texture, heat stability, digestive response, and regulatory compliance matter just as much. Two of the most commonly used—but often misunderstood—ingredients are isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) and isomalt. While both Read more…
Benefits of Using Isomaltooligosaccharides in Better-For-You, Low-Carb, Keto-Friendly, and Sugar-Reduced Formulasby Thom King, Icon Foods, Chief Innovations Officer/Food Scientist As consumer awareness of health and nutrition grows, there is a marked shift towards, GLP-1 friendly, low-carb, better-for-you, and ketogenic diets. This trend has created a demand for fibers and sugar Read more…
The Role of Erythritol and Xylitol in Stimulating GLP-1 Gastrointestinal Hormones: Implications for Appetite Regulationby Thom King, Icon Foods, Chief Innovations Officer/Food Scientist Erythritol and xylitol are sugar alcohols (polyols) widely used as low-calorie sweeteners. Recent studies suggest that these compounds may influence the secretion of various gastrointestinal hormones, including Read more…
The Polyol Lost but Not Forgotten: Erythritol in Food Formulations and Where It Fitsby Thom King, Icon Foods, Chief Innovations Officer/Food Scientist Erythritol, a sugar alcohol with unique properties, has gained widespread attention in the 24 hours news cycle as well as the food industry as a low-calorie keto and Read more…
Masking Off-Notes in High Protein Drinks: The Efficacy of Icon Foods’ MonkSweet™ LS4 Monk Fruit Extract and Steviol Glycosides in Concertby Thom King, Icon Foods, Chief Innovations Officer/Food Scientist High-protein ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages represent one of the fastest-growing segments in the functional food and performance nutrition landscape. Consumers ranging from Read more…