There are still many misunderstandings about food additives among people, but as an important part of the normal development of the industry, we should do more publicity in a timely manner to improve people's awareness in a timely manner.

Recently, the two professional committees of sweeteners and functional sugar ingredients of China Food Additives and Ingredients Association jointly held the 2014 industry annual meeting in Jinan, Shandong Province.　　

Professor Hu Guohua, Secretary General of the Sweetener Professional Committee, made a report on the development of the high-intensity sweetener industry and the work of the professional committee from 2013 to 2014 at the meeting. The report pointed out that at present, my country's high-intensity sweetener products account for more than 75% of the global production, and it has become a major producer of high-intensity sweeteners in the world. In 2013, the total output of high-intensity sweeteners was about 120,000 tons, and exports exceeded 50,000 tons. From 2013 to 2014, the industry showed a stable and slightly rising development trend. At the same time, it also faced problems such as serious overcapacity of most products, rising raw material prices, and declining profitability of enterprises.

At present, my country is still a diversified sweetener consumption market, dominated by sugar consumption, but compared with the world sweetener consumption market, the domestic high-sugar consumption level is still significantly lower than the world average consumption level. In the long run, low-calorie, high-sweetness and functional non-nutritive sweeteners will be the focus and direction of development at home and abroad. In the face of many problems in the industry, the only way for industry enterprises to seize opportunities and achieve sustainable development in the storm of the market economy is to reduce costs, improve product quality and application services, and further enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises through technological progress and scientific and technological innovation.　　

Professor Zhu Lujia, Secretary General of the Professional Committee of Functional Sugar Ingredients, made a report on the development of the sugar alcohol sweetener and functional sugar ingredient industry and the work of the professional committee in 2013-2014. The report pointed out that my country's sugar alcohol industry has grown rapidly in recent years, and the production capacity of most varieties is too large. Now, the production capacity of sugar alcohol products in my country exceeds 2.3 million tons, and the supply exceeds the demand. This year, the industry has grown slowly, and prices have recovered slightly steadily. Some varieties survive with small profits and operate in a weak position. But for the backbone enterprises in the industry, it is still within the controllable range. Under the current situation, enterprises must rely on technological innovation to enhance and strengthen their core competitiveness so that they can develop sustainably.　　

At the meeting, delegates held heated discussions on topics such as the industry development status and existing problems, and reached several consensuses.

First, the overall development speed of the sweetener industry is slow, but the entire industry should have firm confidence, and peers should strengthen mutual exchanges and coordination to jointly cope with difficulties in the development process.

Second, the entire industry should strengthen self-discipline, strictly abide by national laws, regulations and standards, and regulate production and operation behaviors. The industry should strengthen communication and coordination among peers to jointly create a good market atmosphere and achieve win-win results.

Third, enterprises should strive to reduce costs and continuously improve their own strength and risk resistance in terms of technological innovation, application research and development, and services. Fourth, they should accurately grasp the development and changes of the industry and do their best to avoid blindly expanding production capacity and duplicating construction, which will cause serious waste of resources and impact the normal market order.　　

The development of the sweetener and functional sugar ingredients industry is more severe than in the previous two years. The industry should strengthen technological progress and improve its internal strength. The association will continue to build a good communication platform for enterprises, play an organizational and coordinating role, and help and guide the healthy development of the industry.