Coca-Cola is asking for the public's help in its pursuit of sugar alternatives. And the company is sweetening the pot.
The Coca-Cola Co. launched two "sweetener challenges" on its HeroX crowdsourcing platform to expand its pursuit of "all-natural low- or no-calorie sugar alternatives."
The Atlanta-based company has issued two challenges: one to the science community, the other to the public. Coke has made a "call to action" for researchers and scientists to find a "naturally sourced, safe, low- or no-calorie compound that creates the taste sensation of sugar when used in beverages and foods." The grand prize is $1 million.
The other is the “sweet story challenge” that invites people around the world to "submit written anecdotes and videos about their favorite, tried-and-true methods of naturally sweetening foods or beverages in their cultures, communities or families." Up to five individual or team winners will vie for $100,000 in total prize money.
The project is being led by Coca-Cola’s External Technology Acquisition Team, which Coke says explores and invests in emerging ingredients, packaging materials, beverage production technologies and more.
Source: www.bizjournals.com