Manufacturers are simultaneously reformulating products by removing less desirable ingredients while adding nutrients consumers perceive as healthier – a dual “plus and minus” trend, according to Cara Zhuang, Senior Marketing Manager, APAC at Tate & Lyle. “On the minus side, manufacturers are focused on reducing ingredients that are less healthy, such as sugar, salt, and trans fats. Taken together, the “plus and minus” trend suggests Asia Pacific consumers increasingly expect healthier products to offer additional nutritional value rather than simply containing fewer undesirable ingredients. Zhuang said successful clean-label reformulation depends on combining functional ingredients rather than relying on a single replacement ingredient. She added that maintaining mouthfeel helps reinforce consumers’ expectations that clean-label products should deliver the same eating experience as conventional formulations despite having simpler ingredient lists.