| Sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener made from sugar, will be
available for the first time to consumers nationally beginning this month.
The sweetener, also known by the brand name SplendaŽ, was approved for
use in the U.S. in 1998 and has been used as an ingredient in a number of
popular sugar-free products, but has not been offered directly to
consumers until now.
This is sweet news to the 163 million Americans (79 percent of the U.S.
adult population) who consume low-calorie and sugar-free foods and
beverages, according to a national survey recently completed by the
Calorie Control Council. Sugar substitutes (in packet or bulk granular
form) are one of the most popular forms of these products, used by 41
percent of low-calorie product consumers.
"We believe people will be very excited to be able to buy
sucralose in their local grocery store, or find it at their favorite
restaurants. It's a very good-tasting sugar substitute that can be used in
hot and cold beverages, and to replace sugar in many favorite
recipes," said Lyn Nabors, executive vice president of the Council.
Each packet of sucralose, the equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar, can
save 32 calories. A cup of sucralose compared to sugar saves a whopping
674 calories (in a recipe). It is important to note that the calories
derived from each packet or cup are from common food ingredients added to
sucralose so that it measures and pours like sugar. So, for example, a
cake or a pumpkin pie that serves 8 made with sucralose can provide a
savings of almost one- third the calories per serving of a recipe
sweetened with sugar. Another example: a bran muffin sweetened with
sucralose is 60 calories easier on the waistline. Sucralose is very
heat-stable, so it can be successfully used in cooking or baking.
"Our survey found that three-fourths of low-calorie consumers want
to have more low-calorie and reduced-sugar choices available to use as a
part of a healthy lifestyle," Nabors added. "When they learn
there's a new sweetener in town with no calories whatsoever they'll
definitely think their wishes have been granted."
Sucralose in tabletop form has been available overseas since 1991. The
ingredient is approved by more than 40 regulatory agencies worldwide and
is available in more than 400 products around the world.
The Calorie Control Council is a non-profit international association
of companies that make low-calorie and reduced-fat ingredients and
products. The Council sponsors a national consumer survey every two years
to explore Americans' eating and weight control attitudes and habits. The
2000 survey was completed in July 2000, studying 1,200 U.S. adults (age 18
and over), with a sample reliability of 2.8 percent. Further information
on the survey and on sucralose can be found at www.caloriecontrol.org,
the Council's award- winning Web site. |