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June 8 (Reuters) - Britain's Tate & Lyle TATE.L has agreed to a £2.7 billion ($3.60 billion) offer from U.S. rival Ingredion INGR.N, the companies said on Monday, creating a food and beverage ingredients major.

The deal comes at a time when food companies are benefiting from consumers seeking more flavour amid a surge in weight-loss drug use.

Under the deal, Tate & Lyle shareholders will receive 595 pence per share in cash, at a premium of nearly 59% to its last closing before talks were disclosed.

The British company makes Splenda, a sweetener used in Coca-Cola beverages, among other ingredients, while Ingredion supplies Cadbury chocolate maker Mondelez and other majors.

($1 = 0.7504 pounds)