Sweeteners
Sweeteners are food additives that are used as substitutes for sugar. They are used either to impart a sweet taste to food or as a tabletop sweetener. Sweeteners are classified as either high-intensity or bulk. High-intensity sweeteners possess a sweet taste, but are noncaloric, provide essentially no bulk to food, have greater sweetness than sugar, and are typically used at very low levels. Bulk sweeteners are generally carbohydrates, providing energy (calories) and bulk to food, have a similar sweetness to sugar, and are used at comparable levels.
High-intensity sweeteners are added to foods to replace the sweetness normally provided by sugars without contributing significantly to available energy and are a means for consumers to control caloric or carbohydrate intake.
Aspartame
Properties: White crystalline powder; odorless with a sweet taste
Purpose: Flavor enhancer, sugar substitute, sweetener
Where Used: Beverage syrup base (carbonated), beverages (carbonated), beverages (dry base), breath mints, cereals (cold breakfast), chewable multivitamin food supplements, chewing gum, coffee (dry base instant), confections (frozen stick-type), dairy product analog topping (dry base), fruit flavored drinks and aides (noncarbonated refrigerated single strength and frozen concentrate), gelatins (dry base), imitation fruit flavored drinks and aids (noncarbonated refrigerated single strength and frozen concentrate), puddings (dry base), tea beverages
Acesulfame-K
Properties: White crystalline solid; odorless with sweet taste
Purpose: nonnutritive sweetener
Where Used: Beverage (dry base), chewing gum, coffee (instant), dairy product analogs (dry base), gelatins (dry base), puddings (dry base), tabletop sweetener, tea (instant)
Corn Dextrose
Properties: White crystalline powder
Purpose: Sweetener
Where Used: Doughnuts, candies, fondant, pre-packaged pastries and buns, sports and energy drinks, syrups, food colorings, seasoning mixes, dehydrated soups, canned peas, meat products
Corn Maltodextrin
Properties: White powder or solution from partial hydrolysis of corn starch
Purpose: Bodying agent, bulking agent, carrier, crystallization inhibitor, texturizer
Where Used: Candy, crackers, puddings
Isomalt / Palatinose
Isomalt
Properties: White crystalline, odorless
Purpose: Sugar substitute, sugar-free sweetener
Where Used: Baked goods, breakfast cereals and cereal bars, chewing gum coatings, chocolate, coated products, compressed tablets, hard boiled candies, low boiled candies, frozen deserts, fruit spreads
Palatinose
Properties: Colorless-to-white crystalline
Purpose: Sweetener, sugar alternative derived from beet sugar
Where Used: Baked goods, breakfast cereals and cereal bars, dairy products, frozen desserts, fruit juice beverages, malt beverages, powder based drinks, special and clinical nutrition, sports beverages and energy drinks, sugar and chocolate confectionary
Maltitol
Properties: White powder; clear liquid
Purpose: Functional sweetener
Where Used: Baked goods, chewing gum, sugar-free chocolates, hard candies, ice cream, chocolate flavored coatings, frozen desserts, confectionaries
Saccharine
(Calcium + Sodium)
Properties: White crystals or crystalline powder; odorless, very sweet taste
Purpose: Nonnutritive sweetener
Where Used: Bacon, bakery products (nonstandardized), beverage mixes, beverages, chewing gum, desserts, fruit juice drinks, jam, relishes, vitamin tablets (chewable)
Sorbitol
Properties: White crystalline powder
Purpose: Sweetener, sugar substitute, provides texture and moisture retention
Where Used: Baked goods, candies, chewing gum, gummy bears, mints, toothpaste, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals
Sucralose
Properties: White-to-off-white crystalline powder
Purpose: Sugar substitute, high-intensity sweetener, nonnutritive sweetener, low calorie (no calorie) sweetener
Where Used: Diet sodas, chewing gum, sugar-free gelatin, salad dressings, maple syrup alternatives, flavored coffee syrups, barbecue sauces, sugar-free jams and fruit spreads, baked goods, sugar-free candy, frozen desserts, condiments
Tapioca Dextrose
Properties: White or off-white fine powder
Purpose: Functional sweetener, dispersant, humectant, bulking agent, fermentation agent
Where Used: Baked goods, confectionaries, french fries, meat processing
Tapioca Maltodextrin
Properties: white-to-off-white color; powder
Purpose: Bulking agent, stabilizer, fat replacer, carrying agent
Where Used: Desserts, cheese products, ice cream, dressings, sauces
Xylitol
Properties: White crystals or crystalline powder; sweet taste with cooling sensation
Purpose: Nutritive Sweetener
Where Used: Baked goods, cakes, muffins, pies