2018 Innovative New Sweetener Products

Originally Published: August 13, 2018
Last Updated: February 4, 2021
2018 INNOVATIVE New Sweetener Products FEATURE

Consumers, nutritional researchers and regulators are paying increased attention to how products are made sweeter. In response, the industry is introducing interesting and new innovative foods, beverages and supplements  in 2018 formulated with new innovative sweetener products.

The following products will be available for sampling at the 2018 Sweetener Systems Conference, October 23, 2018, at the beautiful Hyatt Lodge, McDonald’s Campus, Oak Brook, Ill.

NOTES: Ingredient statements and nutritional information may change due to product reformulations and other factors.

Brain JuiceBrain Juice®

Ingredients:Brainpower Blend (1440mg – Daily Value not Established): Choline (as Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline), Green Tea Extract, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Organic Acerola Cherry Extract, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, Organic Aҫai Berry Powder, Organic Blueberry Powder, ChiaGold™ Chia Seed Oil, L-Theanine. Other Ingredients: Purified Water, Organic Fair-Trade Granulated Coconut Nectar, Natural Flavors, Monk Fruit Extract, Organic Stevia, Cultured Dairy Solids (for freshness).

Supplement Facts: Serving Size 1 Bottle (2.5fl oz (74ml), Amount per Serving: Calories 11, Total Carbohydrates 2g (<1% DV), Sugars 1g, Vitamin C as Ascorbic Acid, Acerola 80 mg (133% DV), Vitamin B5 as Pantothenic Acid 15mg (150% DV), Vitamin B6 as Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate 10mg (500% DV), Sodium 5mg (<1%)

GFF Comments: This product was chosen for the Sweetener Sampling Station due to its choice (and name used) of one of its sweetener: Organic granulated coconut nectar. Cost $3.33/2.5fl oz on Amazon.com

Comments from Website: BrainJuice is a liquid brain supplement shot that contains nutrients and energy for your brain. Our BrainPower Blend contains the raw materials your brain uses to make the essential neurotransmitters, acetylcholine and dopamine. BrainJuice is naturally sweetened with organic, fair-trade coconut nectar, monk fruit and just 2 mg of organic stevia.  


Product image of Better SweetNow® Better Stevia® Chai Spice Zero-Calorie Liquid Sweetener

Ingredients: Vegetable Glycerin, Natural Chai Spice Flavor (in an alcohol base), Certified Organic Stevia Leaf Extract. Contains 16% alcohol.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 to 8 Drops (0.31ml per drop), Servings per 2fl oz (59ml) Container about 190Bottle, Amount per Serving: Calories 0, Total Fat 0g (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carbohydrate 0g (0% DV), Total Sugars 0g (Includes 0g Added Sugars, 0% DV), Protein 0g

GFF Comments: We ran across this product at 2018 NPEE. It’s one of several companies offering flavored high-potency sweeteners for consumer convenience. $9.99/2fl oz. bottle from XSNonline.

Comments from Website: NOW® BetterStevia® is a zero-calorie, low glycemic, natural sweetener that makes a perfectly healthy substitute for table sugar and artificial sweeteners. Other Better Stevia Liquid Products include Original, Organic, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Tropical Fruit, Glycerite, Maple, Peppermint Cookie, Pomegranate Blueberry, Lemon Twist, English Toffee. Coconut.  


One Basix product imageONE® Basix Cookie Dough Chocolate Chunk Flavored Protein Bar

Ingredients: Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Isolmalto-Oligosaccharides (Prebiotic Fiber from Vegetable Source), Soluble Vegetable Fiber, Cacao, Vegetable Glycerin, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Seed Butter, Natural Flavors, Nonfat Dry Milk, Sunflower Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Tapioca Starch, Sea Salt, Stevia and Calcium Carbonate.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 bar (60g), 12 Servings per Container, Amount per Serving: Calories 210, Total Fat 8g (10% DV), Saturated Fat4g (20% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Monounsaturated Fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 5mg (2% DV), Sodium 150mg (7% DV), Total Carbohydrate 24g (9% DV), Dietary Fiber 9g (32% DV), Total Sugars 1g, Includes 0g Added Sugars (0% DV), Sugar Alcohol 0g, Protein 20g (40% DV)

GFF Comments: Sweetness obtained from isomalto-oligosahccharide (IMO) and stevia. IMOs are said to work well as a sugar replacer due to their relative stability in food and beverage formulations. Sweetness depends on the amount of lower molecular weight components, such as glucose (about 70–75% as sweet as sucrose) and maltose (about 30–35% as sweet as sucrose). Gourineni, V., et al. Nutrients. 2018 Mar; 10(3): 301.

Comments from Website: Advertised as “all you need and nothing you don’t.” Gluten free, no sugar alcohols or sucralose. Other flavors include Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk and Triple Chocolate Chunk. Box of 12-count sells for $27.99 on the company’s website.


Restorative Botanicals’ Bolder Caramelsproduct image

Ingredients: Organic coconut milk (organic coconut, water), organic brown rice syrup, organic coconut palm sugar, sea salt, organic vanilla extract (water, organic ethyl alcohol, organic vanilla bean extractives), xanthan gum, extracted hemp oil, MCT fractionated coconut oil. Contains Tree Nuts (coconut)

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 pieces (10g); Servings per container: 5. Amount Per Serving: Calories: 30, Calories from Fat: 9, Total Fat: 1g (2% DV), Saturated Fat 0.9g (5% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 20mg (1% DV) Total Carbohydrates 5.25g (2% DV), Dietary Fiber 0g (0% DV), Sugars 4g, Protein 0.25g, Vitamin A (0% DV), Vitamin C (0% DV), Calcium (0% DV), Iron (1% DV).

Comments from the company: Delicious Full Spectrum Hemp Oil Infused Coconut Milk Caramels; Dairy Free, Gluten-free, Non-GMO, Vegan; Only Organic and All-Natural Ingredients; Supports functional calming for stress relief, relaxation, and healthy sleep patterns. Made with Non-psychoactive, Organically Grown Hemp, Manufactured in State Licensed Food Production Facility (CDPHE)

GFF Comments: Makes claim of “palm sugar” on front of label. Represents relatively large number of companies at 2018 NPEE promoting hemp-containing foods as well as ability to assist with sleep. $34.99/three packets of five 10gm caramels on Amazon.com ($14.99/one packet on company’s own site)


Manuka Honey product imageWedderspoon Manuka Honey

Ingredients: Raw Manuka Honey

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 tbsp (21g); Amount per Serving, Calories 64, Total Fat 0g, Sodium 0mg, Total Carbohydrate 17g (6% Daily Value ), Sugars 16g; Protein 0g

GFF Comments: From Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website: New Zealand mānuka honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from the mānuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium). Mānuka honey for export is tested by an MPI-recognised laboratory to make sure it meets the mānuka honey definition, which is made of 5 attributes (4 chemicals from nectar and 1 DNA marker from mānuka pollen). For example, the required level of one of the chemicals (2’- methoxyacetophenone) that has only been found in mānuka plants to date. Medicinal qualities of honey include antibacterial properties. Explanation of Manuka honey scores (UMF, NPA, MGO, etc.) is given at http://bit.ly/2psM0lH
The higher the UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) rating and the greater the KFactor, the more expensive the honey.  KFactor 12, 8.8oz jar from Whole Foods $28.99,


Good Idea™Good Idea product image Sparkling Water, Unsweetened – The Swedish Sugar Buster® Dietary Supplement

Supplement Facts:Serving Size 1 can, 12oz (355ml), Servings per Container 1, Amount per Serving: Calories 10, Chromium (as crhomium picolinate) 29 mcg (82% DV), Proprietary Blend 2.6g (L-Leucine, L-Threonine, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine

Other Ingredients (Lemon Lime variety): Carbonated Water, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid

Comments from Website:  Good Idea Sparkling Water is a sugar free, low calorie beverage. It’s made with a proprietary blend of [five amino acids]… a blend that leaves the body better able to handle blood sugar spikes. Additional flavors include orange mango & dragon fruit.

GFF Comments: Information on the product’s flyer reports that “Repeated clinical trials confirmed that when this blend [of five amino acids and chromium] was dissolved in water and served before and with a meal rich in sugars and fast carbs, the blood sugar rise was reduced by 20-30%.  The product comes with the Structure-/Function Claim: “Good Idea may help those with normal blood sugar levels handle the sugar spike following a meal.”


Creation Nation’s Protein Bar Mix PB & Jelly Get in My Belly

Ingredients: Organic Peanut Powder, Gluten Free Rolled Oats, Organic Pea Protein, Grape (Concentrated Grape Puree, Concentrated Grape Juice, Citrus Fiber, Citrus Pectin), Organic Flaxseed Meal, Almonds, Organic Dried Coconut, Sea Salt, Monk Fruit. Contains: Peanuts, Tree Nuts

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1/3 cup (37g), Makes 1 Bar (70g), 8 Servings Per Container, Amount Per Serving (As Prepared/Original Recipe): Calories 230, Calories from Fat 110, Total Fat 8g (18% DV), Saturated Fat 2.5g (15% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 180mg (9% DV), Total Carbohydrate 14g (8% DV), Dietary Fiber 5g (24% DV), Sugars 5g, Protein 12g, Vitamin A (0% DV), Vitamin C (0% DV), Calcium (4% DV), Iron (6% DV)

Comments from Website: Creation Nation’s Protein Bar Mixes come in two additional flavors: Peas Love & Cocoa and Whey Hip Chocolate Chip. The Protein Bar Mixes are Paleo, Vegan and Keto; contain 12g-16g protein; are low carb, made with organic proteins and superfoods; have no preservatives or artificial flavors or colors; and reportedly cost 20% to 40% less than the leading bar or bite at $9.99 to $14.99 SRP.

GFF Comments: This product was also shown at 2018 Protein Trends &
Technologies Seminar because the mix can be customized not only to whether the consumer prefers bar or ball shapes, but more importantly it can be customized to the amount and type of sweetener, fat and “liquid” used. Suggested liquids include water, milk, applesauce, mashed banana, fruit or veggie juices and purees, coffee concentrate, tea or yogurt.  See a preparation demonstration at https://player.vimeo.com/video/258847715


KiZE Pean Butter Bar product imageKiZE Raw Energy Bar, Peanut Butter

Ingredients: Premium Peanut Butter, Raw Honey, Gluten-Free Rolled Oats, Grass Fed Whey Protein Isolate 

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: one bar 1.6 oz.  (45g), 10 Servings per Container, Amount per Serving: Calories 210, Fat Calories 90, Total Fat 10g (15% DV), Saturated Fat 1g (5% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 80mg (3% DV), Total Carb 20g (7% DV), Dietary Fiber 3g (12% DV), Sugars 10g, Protein 11g (22% DV) 

GFF Comments:  At the time of the 2018 NPEW, a claim of “no sugar added” was made. Other companies had also used honey in their formulation while making  “no sugar added”  claims. KiZE no longer made this claim by fall 2018.

Comments from Website: Additional flavors include Almond Butter, Cookie Dough, Cocoa, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Almond, Peanut Butter Crunch with Pumpkin Seeds and Cinnamon Roll. Number of ingredients per bar varies from four to eight. Bars are High Energy, Gluten-free, non-GMO, have greater than 10g protein and “life changing” as each sale benefits those in need. Price on Amazon.com was $29.99 for a box of 10 – 1.6oz. bars.


Local Hive Midwest product imageRice’s Honey® Local HiveMidwest Raw & Unfiltered Honey, 16 oz. (454g) 

 

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 tbsp (21g), 22 Servings per Container, Amount per Serving: Calories 60, Fat Calories 0, Total Fat 0g (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carb. 17g (6% DV), Sugars 16g, Protein 0g 

GFF Comments: Claims on the sales flyer include: Straight from the Hive of Local Beekeepers all across America; Healthy Alternative Sweetener Compared to Sugar; Full of Natural Nutrients, like Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants, Amino Acids, Enzymes and Bee Pollen.

Comments from Website: From nectar nestled between the Appalachians and Rockies, our Midwest honey has a sweet start and floral finish, with just a hint of cinnamon.


Play Tea Kids’ TeaPlay Teas Kid's Tea product image

Ingredients: (Peach variety): Naturally Caffeine-Free Organic Herbal Tea (Filtered Water infused with Organic Rosehip & Organic Hibiscus Flowers), Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Pea Puree, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). 

Nutrition Facts: Serving size 1 bottle (237mL), Amount per serving (% Daily Value*), Calories 40, Total Fat 0g, Total Carbohydrate 10g (4%),  Dietary Fiber 0g, Total Sugars 10g Incl. 8g Added Sugar (17%), Protein 0g      

GFF Comments: *The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Comments from Website: We source our organic maple syrup from a seventh generation farming family in Vermont.  Maple syrup has a lower glycemic index than sugar or honey and also contains minerals not present in other natural sweeteners like potassium, calcium and iron. $19.99/twelve-8oz bottles from Amazon.com


2018 SSC sampling station so delicious coconut milkSo Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Non-Dairy Dessert 

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 Bar (47g), Amount Per Serving (% Daily Value) Calories 60, Calories from Fat 40, Total Fat 4.5g (6%), Saturated Fat 4g (20%), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0%), Sodium 40mg (2%), Total Carbohydrate 9g (3%), Dietary Fiber 5g (18%), Sugars <1g, Sugar Alcohol 2g, Protein < 1g

GFF Comments: Product makes a front label claim of “No Sugar Added”, $5.99/box of four 2.3fl oz bars

 

 

 


Swerve® Sweets™Swerve Sweets product image Chocolate Cake Mix 

Ingredients: Blanched Almond Flour, Swerve® (Erythritol, Prebiotic Oligosaccharides, Natural Flavors), Cocoa (processed with alkali), Organic Coconut Flour, Tapioca Starch, Baking Soda, Sea Salt, Cream of Tartar.  

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 slice (51g), 12 Servings per Container, Amount per Serving: Calories 70, Total Fat 6g , (8% DV), Saturated Fat 1g (5% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 150mg (7% DV), Total Carb 14g (5% DV), Dietary Fiber 3g (11% DV), Total Sugars 1g, Added Sugars 0g (0% DV), Erythritol 8g, Protein 3g
Net Carbs 3g 

GFF Comments: Many products at 2018 NPEE were promoted for ketogenic diets; a prime benefit is weight loss. Very low carb and use of fats such as butter, lard, coconut and palm oil and MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) are recommended.  The Director of Sales & Marketing at Swerve Sweets said interest in Keto diets really went mainstream this last year, which greatly helped their sales. Their products use erythritol and oligosaccharides (non-impact carbohydrates) for sweetness. Other sweeteners used by keto products include monk fruit, stevia, xylitol among various oligofructoses and isomaltooligosaccharides.

Comments from Website:  KETO DIET FRIENDLY: No added sugar, only 2 net carbs per slice;  GRAIN FREE and GLUTEN FREE: Made with almond flour and coconut flour; NATURAL, NOTHING ARTIFICIAL: Non-GMO Verified, made with premium ingredients – nothing sourced from China, $8.99/10.6 oz bag cake mix from Amazon.com


Wholesome™ Mindfully Delicious™Wholesome Sweet Organic Raw Unfiltered Honey Raw Unfiltered Honey  

Ingredients: Fair Trade Organic Honey 



Nutrition Facts
: Serving Size 1 tbsp (21g), 22 Servings per Container, Amount per Serving: Calories 60, Total Fat 0g (0% DV), Sat. Fat 0g (0% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carb. 17g (6% DV), Fiber 0g (0% DV), Total Sugars 17g (Incl. 17g Added Sugars, 34% DV), Protein 0g 

GFF Comments: This honey product is promoted for its benefits of NOT being locally sourced which are said to include Pesticide Free, Antibiotic Free and securely protected supply chain to prevent adulteration or contamination. Also, the honey is Organic, Fair Trade Certified and Certified Non-GMO Project Verified and Kosher.  Wholesome Honey $29.97/three-16 oz jars from Amazon.com

Comments from Website: The honey is never heated about 110°F so it maintains its vital nutritive benefits and is said to have the essence of butterscotch.


Kill Cliff® Endure Performance

Ingredients (for Berry Punch flavor): Water, PalatinoseTM (isomaltalose), citric acid, natural flavor, potassium citrate, natrual flavirs, salt, fruit and vegetable extract (for color), monk fruit extract

 Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 16fl. oz, 473ml; Servings per Container 2, Amount per Serving: Calories 50, Total fat 0g (0% DV), Sodium 60mg (3% DV), Potassium 240mg (7% DV), Total Carbohydrates 14g (5% DV), Total Sugars 14g (5%), **Sugars 13g, Protein 0g.

** Isomaltose is a low-glycemic sugar. This bottle contains 13g per serving.

Comments from Website: Unlike traditional sugars, isomaltulose comes from non-GMO sugar beets and is a low-glycemic, slow-release carb fuel that provides functional benefits. Product is Non-GMO, Certified Kosher, Gluten-Free, Dairy Free, Paleo Friendly and Vegan. Also available in lemon-lime and berry punch.

GFF Comments: Other claims – Isomaltulose is used as a low-glycemic carb that prevents insulin spikes and useful in s sports regime.


KNOW Better Cookies®

Nutrition Facts:Serving Size 1 Cookie (114g), Servings per Container 4, Amount per Serving: Calories 395, Calories from Fat 288, Total fat 32g (49% DV), Saturated Fat 12g (60% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 168mg (7% DV), Potassium 700mg (20% DV), Total Carbohydrates 42g (14% DV), Dietary Fiber 12g (48% DV), Sugars 28g, Protein 18g.

Comments from Website: Claims include Low Carb, Grain-free, High Protein, High Fiber, Gluten Free, and No Added Sugar. Alternative flavors include Double Chocolate, Lemon and Cinnamon. GFF Comments: While the package label lists 42g of Carbs, Net Carbs are determined by subtracting fiber and allulose, a monosaccharide that does not raise blood sugar or insulin levels since it is not metabolized in the bloodstream.


Yönalé™ Birch Water

Ingredients (for Original variety): Organic Birch Tree Water

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 pouch, 11.2fl oz (330ml), Servings per Container 1, Amount per Serving: Calories 20, Total Fat 0g (0% DV), Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carbohydrate 3g (1% DV), Dietary Fiber 0g (0% DV), Total Sugars 3g, Includes 0g Added Sugars (0% DV), Protein 2g.

Comments from Website: Yönalé™ Birch Water is harvested with responsible forest practices and has received UNESCO World Nature Heritage Recognition. It is also packed in Tetra Pak®, which has a lower carbon footprint than other options. Other benefits are that its made with xylitol, a low glycemic sugar, daily essential nutrients and is said to boost energy and immunity. It is a a product of Finland.


Heavenly Organics Double Dark Chocolate Honey Patties

Ingredients: Raw Organic White Honey and Unsweetened Organic Dark Chocolate.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 3 Patties (33g), 16 Servings per Container, Amount per Serving: Calories 160, Total Fat 8g (10% DV), Saturated Fat 5g (25% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carbohydrate 20g (7% DV), Dietary Fiber 3g (11% DV), Total Sugars 14g, Added Sugars 14g (28% DV), Protein 2g.

GFF Comment:A winner of 2018 Natural Products Expo Best’s Nexty Award: Best New Sweet or Dessert. According to one website, white honeys “generally have a milder flavor as compared to darker honeys. Flowers that produce white honey include sage, alfalfa, fireweed, white clover. There also is a rare form of white honey called kiawe honey, which comes from the kiawe trees in Hawaii. It’s a very light amber or almost clear “water-white.”

Comments from Website: All chocolates flavors contain four or fewer ingredients and use sustainable farmed ingredients. Those ingredients are produced by a cooperative of hundreds of organic farms in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains and throughout northern and central India. $30.07/40 patties from Amazon.com


TOSH Cereal Bar Lyne No Sugar Added

https://tosh.com.co/productos/barras/barra-lyne/

Ingredients: Corn flakes (corn, salt, barley malt), bulking agent (polydextrose), artificial sweetener (maltitol), milk powder skim, oats, vegetable fat, maltodextrin, acidity regulator (socium bicarbonate) and artificial sweetener.

Nutrition Facts: Serving Size: 1 bar (0.81 oz.), Amount per Serving (% Daily Value): Calories 70, Calories from Fat 15, Total fat 2g (3%), Saturated Fat 1.5g (8%), Polyunsaturated Fat 0g, Monounsaturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g, Total Carbohydrates 12g (4%), Dietary Fiber 4g (16%), Soluble Fiber 1g, Insoluble Fiber 3g, Sugars 1g, Protein 2 g (4%), Percent daily values are based on a (8400 kJ) 2.000 calories diet.

GFF Comment: Product manufactured in Colombia by Compañía Nacional de Chocolates. Purchased in Cartagena, Colombia July 2018, but product was so new it was not yet listed on company website. Asterisks with the name noted that sugar was contributed by lactose. Label claims include a good source of fiber, no preservatives and no artificial colors.


XLEAR Natural Honey Lemon Sugar Free Cough Drops

Active Ingredients: Menthol (4mg per drop).
Inactive Ingredients: Citric Acid, Isomalt, Natural Flavors, Sodium Ascorbate, Stevia, Titanium Dioxide, Xylitol

Nutrition: Serving Size 1 Cough Drop (3.5g), Servings per Container 30, Amount per Serving: Calories 5, Total Fat 0mg (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carbohydrate 3g (<1% DV), Sugars 0g (0% DV), Sugar Alcohol 3g (<1% DV), Protein 0g.

GFF Comment: Chosen because of the product’s emphasis on xylitol’s anti-microbial benefits. One consumer comment on Amazon.com – “Great taste. You can use them in bed without rotting your teeth! In fact, they are good for your teeth!” $5.87/30 count on Vitacost.com

Website Comment: Those brands sweeten their drops with sugar, which only feeds the bacteria causing the problem in your throat. So, you may have some relief, but only for a fleeting moment. Other brands try to skirt this problem by providing “sugar-free” options, but they’re sweetened artificially. And you don’t want the risks that come with that. Xlear Cough Drops are different. They are naturally sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol is clinically proven to break-up bacterial biofilms, the communities where bacteria thrive, and inhibit bacteria from sticking around. Xlear Cough Drops actually work against the thing causing the problem in the first place. Additional Flavors include Black Cherry and Green Apple Sugar Free Cough Drops.


2018 SSC sampling station crave crushCrave Crush
http://cravecrush.com

Supplement Facts: Serving Size, one lozenge; Amount per serving, Zinc (as Zinc Gluconate) 1 mg (7% Daily Value), Gemnema Leaf Extract (Gemnema Sylvestre) 3mg (% Daily Value Not Established)

Other Ingredients: Sorbitol, Flavor and Color Added

GFF Comment: Crave Crush, a lozenge, helps limit cravings for foods with sugar within seconds. Its ingredient, gymnema, influences the tongue’s sweet taste receptors. It inhibits activation of those receptors by sugar molecules, which prevents the receptors from signaling the brain. A press release noted that Crave Crush suppresses the sense of sweet taste for up to an hour, although the GFF staff found 20-30 minutes was more typical. Introduced in 2017, the product is again sampled at the 2018 Sweetener Systems Conference (SSC) since it was developed “using a patented technology created by Crave Crush LLC in partnership with Dr. Grant Dubois, former Director of Ingredient and Product Sciences at the Coca-Cola Company and one of the world’s leading experts on sweet taste.” Grant Dubois will be a speaker at 2018 SSC. See further comments in Crave Crush Press Release.


Nova Nutrition Gymnema Sylvestre

Supplement Facts: Serving Size: 1 Vcap; Amount Per Serving (% Daily Value), Gymena* Standarized Extra [Gymnema Sylvestre leaf] 500mg; Standardized to contain minimum 35% Gymnemic Acid; Total Gymnemic Acid 175mg Daily Value not established OTHER INGREDIENTS: Vegetable Cellulose (capsule), Silica, Vegetable Strarate Spellings at they appear on the bottle

Comment from Website: Gymnema Sylvestre helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels when used as part of your diet. This herb has been used traditionally in India for centuries and has been shown in research to support healthy glucose metabolism by mediation of insulin release and activity and enhancement of healthy pancreatic function. GFF Comment: The capsules are to be consumed whole. However, the (very bitter) herb suppresses sweet perception for some half an hour.


2018 Emerging & On-trend New Sweetener Ingredients

Shown here as consumer products

 

Allulose

Sampled as consumer product: CMK(Color Me Keto) Allulose Sweetener, Zero Net Carb Keto Sugar – Natural Sugar Alternative – Low Calorie Sweetener – Made in the USA – Granular Powder –(16 oz.)

Ingredients: Allulose Nutrition Facts: Serving Size 1 tsp (4g), Servings per Container 113, Amount per Serving: Calories 0, Total fat 0g (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carbohydrates 4g (0% DV), Sugars 4g (1% DV), Allulose 4g, Total Protein 0g (0% DV).

Comments from Website: Allulose tastes like sugar – 70% as sweet; performs like sugar in many applications; is shown to have no effect on blood sugar; is 100% Natural; and great for Ketogenic and Low Carb Diets. Allulose was first identified in wheat in the 1930s and has since been found in certain foods, including figs, raisins and maple syrup.

GFF Comments: Currently, allulose must be included on the label as “added sugars,” which may cause some confusion with those consumers who look for less sugar on labels. A petition has been submitted to the FDA by Tate & Lyle to exclude classifying allulose as a sugar, but that docket remains open. Xylitol Sampled here as consumer product:


Smart Sweet® 100% Real Birch Xylitol Natural Sweetener, 1.5lb., No GMO, Corn, Wheat, Soy, Dairy or Gluten

2018 Birch xylitol sweetener samplingIngredients: Xylitol

Nutrition Facts:Serving Size 1 teaspoon (4g), Servings per Container 170, Amount per Serving: Calories 9.6, Total fat 0g (0% DV), Sodium 0mg (0% DV), Total Carbohydrates 4g (less than 1% DV), Sugar 0g, (0% DV), Xylitol 4g (less than 1%), Protein 0g.

Comments from Website: Brooklyn Birch Company Birch Tree Water touts its Natural detox and immunity booster properties, and indicates it’s packed with naturally occurring micronutrients. Birch Water is nutrients rich, contains naturally occurring electrolytes and antioxidant, made with locals to collect 100% organic birch sap during a collection period that lasts only 14-21 days.

 GFF Comments: The product also includes the disclosure to keep xylitol away from pets since it can cause serious health risks for dogs. Canine consumption of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which may result in depression, loss of coordination, seizures, liver failure or even be fatal.