The European Union approves Tagatose as “novel food ingredient”

16/12/05 Spherix Incorporated has announced that tagatose has been formally approved as a “novel food ingredient” in the European Union (EU), permitting the use of the sweetener in a wide variety of products. The EU decision follows approvals of tagatose by regulatory agencies in the United States, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, and by JECFA, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.

Tagatose is Spherix's patented, low-calorie, natural sweetener that tastes and acts like table sugar. It is being used in a number of products sold on store shelves around the world. Tagatose can not only be used as a sugar replacement, but it also can be used to improve the mouthfeel, sweetness, and flavor profile of products containing high-intensity sweeteners. Unlike table sugar and many other sweeteners, tagatose is low-calorie, prebiotic, low- glycemic, does not promote tooth decay, and is safe for diabetics, all of which enhances its potential for use in foods and beverages.

The EU approval of tagatose is without any restrictions on usage. However, since tagatose is considered to be a fiber and is absorbed slowly and incompletely, food products containing more than 15 grams of tagatose per serving and beverages with a tagatose content of more than 1% must display the same type of informative statement that polyol-containing products are required to carry. In the EU, the allocation of a specific caloric value that differs from that of traditional sugars (4 kcal/g) requires a separate regulatory action. This action will be initiated in the near future by Spherix's food and beverage licensee Arla Foods of Denmark.

Gaio tagatose is manufactured and marketed by Arla Foods, which began commercial production of tagatose in 2003 in a 50/50 joint venture, “SweetGredients,” with the German sugar producer Nordzucker. The product is distributed for food and beverage use by Arla. Food-use approval is also underway in Canada, Japan, and Mexico.

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