Sugar alternatives under review in the UK

Sugar consumption is decreasing in Europe. Consumers are choosing healthier, low-sugar diets. Because of this, food processors are reformulating their products, so they have a lower sugar content. To be able to label products as sugar-free, more and more often, processors are using alternative sweeteners. Food safety authorities are researching many sugar alternatives. Manufacturers are using new technologies and ingredients to reduce sugar with minimal impact on taste. Sugar crystals are an example of a new ingredient. They dissolve on the tongue quicker than ordinary sugar, giving the same sweet taste with fewer calories. Other products include sweeteners that have the familiar sweet taste but a lot fewer calories than ordinary sugar. Some sweeteners are more popular than others. Examples are sucralose, stevia, xylitol from birch, coconut sugar and erythritol. Although sugar consumption is decreasing in Europe, consumers are worried about the use of sugar alternatives. There is ...