Sweeteners

They are produced from a range of natural raw materials including wood, milk sugar and sucrose (sugar) itself.

Sweeteners are the mainstay of foods marketed on the basis of a structure/function and/or health claim such as:

• does not promote tooth decay
• sugar free, reduced sugar, low sugar or no added sugar
• low glycaemic

These foods are particularly popular in helping to reduce the risk of 'lifestyle' diseases such as:

• obesity
• tooth decay
• diabetes

Danisco offers a range of sweeteners including:

Xylitol
Xylitol is a 5-carbon monosaccharide derived from plant sources such as hardwood. It has unique oral health advantages as it actually inhibits the growth of cariogenic bacteria. Xylitol is widely acknowledged as the gold standard ingredient for oral health products. It is particularly popular in chewing gum around the world, often outselling traditional products based on sugar.

Fructose
Fructose, also known as fruit sugar, is the sweetest naturally occurring sugar. It is found in most fruits and honey. It tastes the same as regular sugar and contributes 4 kcal per gram, the same as sugar but it is almost twice as sweet as sugar under most circumstances. Hence, it can be used to reduce calories in a wide range of food formulations and so is safe for diabetics.

Lactitol
Lactitol is derived from lactose or milk sugar and contributes the same bulk as sugar but only half the calories. It has an excellent texture and taste profile making it a versatile ingredient for food processors.

All of Danisco's sweeteners have a low glycaemic index and are well suited for today's trend towards reducing the glycaemic impact of the diet.

Litesse®
Litesse® (polydextrose) is marketed as a non-glycaemic speciality carbohydrate. Originally Litesse® was developed as a low calorie bulking agent with a caloric availability of 1 kilocalorie per gram (versus 4 for traditional carbohydrates). Furthermore, Litesse® has a toleration of 90 g/day which makes it a truly unique bulking agent.

Application areas
Danisco's sweeteners are used in a wide range of applications including:

• baked goods
• dairy products
• confectionery
• beverages
• confectionery products
• pharmaceutical and oral health products

The primary rationale for using sweeteners in foods is to enable consumers to choose foods offering physiological advantages. Some of these are listed above. The possibilities are enormous but it should be noted that such foods are subject to rigorous standards, labelling laws and government approvals. Scientific substantiation and regulatory compliance is the sine qua non of such foods and Danisco possesses the necessary expertise to support food manufacturers in their use of these innovative ingredients.