Functionality of High- Potency Sweeteners Joe Bell Kraft Foods

Sweeteners can be classified into two main • Saccharin, which also has no trade name. categories, bulk sweeteners (such as sucrose, • Sucralose (trade name Splenda) fsorbitol and fructose) and high-potency sweet- Of these ingredients, alitame is the only one eners. High-potency sweeteners are those that that has not yet been given FDA approval. have sweetness intensity at least 30 times A petition for alitame was filed with the greater than that of sucrose. This discussion FDA in 1992.That petition is still pending. will focus on high-potency sweeteners. Since approval of alitame could potentially The regulatory approval process for any be granted at any time, it will be included in new direct food additive can require this discussion. 10 years or more. Therefore, the scope of The vast majority of the public domain this paper will be limited to those sweeten- studies on sweetener functionality have been ers that have been approved, or have done in aqueous model systems, including Joe Bell is in new already filed for approval with the FDA. beverages.These studies provide useful direc- product development We will first examine individual sweet- tion for confectionery applications. for confectionery prod- eners, including their chemistry and func- ucts at Kraft Foods. tional properties. They will be considered ASPARTAME Prior to working at in order of their chemical similarity.After- Aspartame (apm) is approximately 200 Kraft, he was man- wards, the functionality of all high-intensity times sweeter than sucrose. In order for a ager, technical services with the NutraSweet sweeteners and their blends will be sweetener to function well, it must dissolve Company. reviewed as a group. Following are the in the mouth, though not necessarily in the sweeteners and the order in which they will finished product.All that is necessary is that be examined: it disperses completely. However, the rate at • Aspartame (trade name NutraSweet) which it dissolves in the mouth relates to • Acesulfame-K (trade name Sunnett) the rate of sweetness onset, and the sweet- • Aspartame-acesulfame (a salt sold under ness duration. the trade name of Twinsweet) The solubility of aspartame is given in • Neotame, which has no trade name Figure 1. Like any protein, its solubility is • Alitame (trade name Aclame) significantly affected by the pH of the sys- Joe Bell ➤

The Manufacturing Confectioner • November 2004 43