Cargill Sweetness Solutions welcomes EU approval of erythritol

08/06/06 Cargill Sweetness Solutions has welcomed the change in EU law surrounding the sweetener erythritol, saying it will give food and beverage manufactures across Europe greater flexibility in developing their products.

Erythritol is a non-caloric bulk sweetener with a sweetness intensity 70% that of sucrose. It is the first polyol to be industrially manufactured by a fermentation process and offers both health and indulgence properties. Erythritol occurs naturally in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and fermented foods. It has a crystalline appearance, taste and functionality similar to sucrose, yet without the calories. In addition, erythritol is non-glycemic, tooth friendly, and is well tolerated.

The EC Council of Health Ministers has finalised the legislative process to approve the use of erythritol in foods, under the same conditions as other polyols, by adopting all amendments to the relevant directives voted by the European Parliament in October last year. Member States now have a maximum of 18 months to implement these changes into their national law. Three countries – The Netherlands, Belgium and Finland – have given already permission for the use of erythritol in foods.
 
This approval does not deal with the fact that erythritol is non-caloric and well-tolerated. Last month, the EU Commission issued a discussion paper on nutrition labelling, inviting industry and consumer organisations to provide comment on a number of modifications including the caloric value of erythritol. These modifications are expected to come into force in early 2007.
 
Mark Wastijn, marketing director, Cargill Sweetness Solutions says: “For years we have been working on this approval. The European food industry and health-conscious consumers will highly welcome the EU-approval of erythritol. This new and unique ingredient provides much greater flexibility in the formulation of calorie-reduced and toothfriendly foods. The team of application experts at Cargill Sweetness Solutions are ready to help and demonstrate how to use erythritol in the development of healthier and tastier products.”
 
Cargill Sweetness Solutions markets erythritol under the brand C*Eridex. It has been marketed successfully for years in many markets including Japan and the US. With the increasing global awareness that “calories count”, erythritol is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. The higher demands to reduce overall sugar consumption, the food and beverage industry is seeking ways to respond to consumer demands for food and beverages that meet their dietary and weight loss or maintenance goals. This means developing foods and beverages that are lower in caloric density while achieving the desired textural, flavour and stability of traditional products. According to Cargill Sweetness Solutions, depending on the application, C*Eridex erythritol is able to meet most – if not all – such needs.