Non-Nutritive Sweeteners
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The REALTRUTH About Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Sugar, or sucrose, is one of the most widely used ingredients in the foods we buy. All other sweeteners basically are compared to how they stack up against sugar. Nutritive Versus Non-Nutritive Sugar and other sweeteners like fructose, dextrose, The Upside and the Downside lactose, maltose, honey, corn syrup and concentrated fruit juice sweeteners are called nutritive sweeteners. Sugar alcohols, including sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, There are many benefits of using non-nutritive sweeteners. They: maltitol and erythritol, also are considered nutritive sweeteners. • Can contribute pleasurable sweet sensations without increasing energy intake. Nutritive sweeteners add energy (calories) to the diet. • Do not increase the incidence of dental caries Non-nutritive sweeteners don’t add energy. and may even prevent cavities. The FDA has approved five non-nutritive sweeteners: • Do not affect blood sugars. saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose and • Decrease calorie content of food. stevia (the latest). • Can be used in non-food items to make them taste more pleasurable. • Can be used to replace sugar in cooking or What Do Dietitians Say? baking. • Only require small amount to sweeten foods The American Dietetic Association (ADA) states that and beverages. diet quality suffers when intakes of nutritive sweeten- • May aid in weight control. ers exceeds 25 percent of total energy. The ADA’s position on non-nutritive sweeteners states that “consumers can safely enjoy a range of nutri- tive and non-nutritive sweeteners when consumed There is a downside of using in a diet that is guided by the current federal nutrition non-nutritive sweeteners, however. recommendations, such as the Dietary Guidelines Among those points: for Americans and the Dietary Reference Intakes, as • They may cause an aftertaste. well as individual health goals. Dietetics professionals • They are not all good substitutes for sugar in should provide consumers with science-based infor- cooking and baking. mation about sweeteners and support research on • Limited history of some means not all is the use of sweeteners to promote eating enjoyment, known beyond the Accepted Daily Intake. optimal nutrition and health.” • There is limited research on the safety during pregnancy. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recom- • Warning label is required on foods that mend “foods and beverages with little added sugars contain aspartame. or caloric sweeteners.” • Sweetener or sweet taste may increase appetite. • They may alter metabolism, which could lead to overeating. FDA Approved Non-Nutritive Sweeteners Relative Energy Acceptable Sweetener Trade Name Sweetness Approved Uses (kcal/g) Daily Intake to Sugar Tabletop sweetener; wide range of foods, beverages and non-food items. Sweet ‘N Low 5 mg/kg of Heat stable. Can be used in baked foods. Saccharin Sugar Twin 300-450 0 body weight Not proven safe for pregnant or lactating Necta Sweet women. No limitations by the FDA for children or for diabetics. General-purpose sweetener in all foods and Nutrasweet in beverages. food products; 50 mg/kg of Not heat stable. Aspartame Equal as a 200 4 body weight Safe to use in moderation during pregnancy tabletop and lactation. Can be used by diabetics. Warn- sweetener ing to people with PKU. Sunett in food Used in dry beverage mixes, chewing gums, Acesulfame products; Sweet 15 mg/kg of instant coffees, teas, gelatins, puddings and Potassium One and Swiss 200 0 body weight non-dairy creamers. (Ace-K) Sweet as tabletop Safe for pregnant women and diabetics. sweeteners General-purpose sweetener in all foods. Stable at high temperatures. 5 mg/kg of Sucralose Splenda 600 0 Can easily be substituted for sugar. body weight Safe for everyone to use, including pregnant women. FDA approved as GRAS. 12 mg/kg of General-purpose sweetener. Stevia PureVia, Truvia 200-300 0 body weight Not yet proven to be safe for pregnant or lactating women. Safe for diabetics. Used in baked goods, beverages, chewing gums, candies, frostings, frozen desserts, gela- 18 mg/kg of Neotame Neotame 8,000 0 tins, puddings, jams, jellies and syrups. body weight Safe for pregnant and lactating women, children and diabetics. Author: Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Sandra May, M.S., L.D.N., R.D. William B. Richardson, Chancellor School of Human Ecology Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station David J. Boethel, Vice Chancellor and Director Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Paul D. Coreil, Vice Chancellor and Director Pub. 3155 (1M) 07/2010 Visit our website: www.LSUAgCenter.com The LSU AgCenter provides equal opportunities in programs and employment..