Recently, companies in the beverage
industry have launched sugar-free beverages that contain erythritol onto the
market. On April 6, Yili launched a fruit tea flavored yogurt, which is
considered to be the first beverage company to produce a half-sugar yogurt with
a fruit tea flavor. According to Yili, the added sucrose in the product is less
than or equal to 5% of normal amounts. Each hectogram of the yogurt contains 71
calories.
On April 8, Jianlibao launched an
orange-flavored non-alcoholic sparkling water onto the market. The product
contains erythritol, which is considered to be a healthy substitute for sugar,
and the product also contains dietary fiber, which helps people maintain
healthy intestinal function.
Eastroc Beverage also launched a
sugar-free beverage that contains erythritol and maltitol. The product has
added taurine, guarana extract, and green tea powder that contain natural
caffeine, which is a stimulant that increases energy. The product also adds
nicotinic acid and vitamin B6 as vitamin supplements.
Erythritol
most popular low-calorie sweetener among new food and beverage products
Erythritol is a sugar with the least calories out of
all commonly used edible sugars, which makes it more popular than xylitol for
use as a cane sugar and corn syrup substitute in new recent food products. The
reason for erythritol's low calorie count is that humans lack the enzymes
necessary to fully digest erythritol, so after it moves from the small
intestine to the blood stream, it cannot be further metabolized, and it is
almost entirely expelled in urine. Unlike certain other sugars, erythritol does
not lead to bloating and diarrhea, and it is safe even for diabetic people to
consume.
Since erythritol has the lowest calorie density out of
all commonly consumed sugars, with a calorie density of almost zero, it is
often used in "zero calorie" beverages, and it is useful for reducing
the calories in high calorie foods. Throughout the world, erythritol is already
commonly used in sugarless candy products. For example, it is used in place of
traditional sugars in gumdrops and other soft candies to reduce calories by up
to 85%, and it is used in chocolate to reduce calories by up to 30%.
Furthermore, etythritol can be used in alcoholic beverages to facilitate the
mixture of ethanol and water molecules, which can reduce alcoholic smell and
asperity, which leads to higher quality spirits and wines.
Demand for
erythritol and xylitol expected to increase as low-calorie products gain
popularity
Another popular sweetener commonly used in recent food
products is xylitol. Since 1963, xylitol has been considered by the American
Food and Drug Administration to be a publicly recognized safe substance, and
xylitol has been allowed for use in food, drinks, medicines, and cosmetic products.
Furthermore, the European Food Safety Authority has declared that xylitol is
safe for long-term consumption, and the Joint Expert Committee on Food
Additives, headed by both American and European authorities, classified xylitol
as a Class A food additive. Since then, xylitol has been commonly used in sweet
products and desserts as an artificial sweetener.
With the recent new beverages launched on the market,
it is expected that low-calorie products using xylitol and erythritol will
continue to increase in presence and that the demand for these two low-calorie
sugars will continue to grow.
For more information, please check our resources on China's
Sugar & Sweeteners Market.