Cargill’s Xtend Sucromalt Receives Novel Foods Approval

European food and beverage manufacturers now have the benefit of using this unique syrup to satisfy the public’s growing demand for sweetness solutions.

27 May 2010 --- Cargill has received official Novel Foods approval for its Xtend brand sucromalt, paving the way for this one-of-a-kind sweetener to be used in a variety of foods and beverages produced and sold in Europe. The approval, based on the sweetener’s demonstrated safety as an ingredient, complements the official notification Cargill received in 2009 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA notification stated that the agency has no objection to the conclusion of an independent expert panel that sucromalt is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food.

Xtend sucromalt is derived from sucrose and maltose and has a clean, sweet taste.  It provides the full energy of both glucose and fructose, but it is a slowly digestible carbohydrate with a low glycemic response. Cargill is the only company to produce sucromalt.

“Cargill is excited to have the opportunity to help our European customers develop new sweetness solutions using Xtend sucromalt. There is worldwide concern for reducing dietary sugar intake. Our Novel Foods approval means that more consumers will benefit from foods and beverages made with sucromalt which delivers balanced energy, will not spike insulin levels and is low glycemic,” said Deborah Schulz, Xtend product line manager, Cargill Health & Nutrition.

Produced as syrup, Cargill’s Xtend sucromalt can be used in a variety of products, including beverages, cereal, soft chews and confections, yogurt, ice cream, nutrition bars, and meal replacement bars. In some applications, Xtend sucromalt can enable label simplification by reducing or eliminating the use of some starch and sweetener ingredients. Its binding nature works similarly to corn syrup, yet offers balanced blood glucose levels.