Benefits of Sucralose in Food Production

Zero-calorie Sucralose developed when scientists substituted oxygen atoms for chlorine atoms in the chemical formula for sucrose. This small change created a product 600 times sweeter than sucrose without the caloric burden. Food ingredient supplier Bell Chem stocks Sucralose and anticipates the market for this sweetener will continue to grow.

Sucralose has become ubiquitous on supermarket shelves, with more than 4,000 foods and beverages listing Sucralose or its brand name as an ingredient. Because it is significantly sweeter than other sugars and sugar substitutes, a tiny amount is all that is necessary to enhance beverages, breakfast bars, breads and the other products in which it is an ingredient. 

Health Benefits

Many health-minded consumers looking for a natural alternative to sugar appreciate that Sucralose is derived from sucrose. Patients suffering with cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus find foods with Sucralose do not cause a rise in obesity or long- or short-term blood glucose levels since the body does not recognize Sucralose as a simple sugar or carbohydrate because of its chemical manipulation. The chemical change from sucrose also makes it unappealing to oral bacteria that cause tooth decay. 

Heat Stability

Confectioners praise Sucralose’s stability in a variety of temperature extremes. Heat stability gives Sucralose the ability to act like table sugar when added to baked goods as well as during canning and pasteurization- it will not break down and cause an abnormal distribution of flavor when the temperature fluctuates. 

Storage Benefits

Manufacturers and retailers enjoy Sucralose’s ability to withstand a number of the conditions relative to processing, including adapting to a vast range of food pH values. This ability extends to another factor all parties associated with Sucralose appreciate: the lengthy shelf life it attains since it does not break down over time. Foods including dried fruits and vegetables, frozen desserts, and salad dressings contain Sucralose for this reason.

Other Uses for Sucralose

Along with foods and beverages for human consumption, Sucralose is also an ingredient in animal feed, pharmaceuticals, and health and beauty products. When dissolved in water or certain alcohols, Sucralose shields astringent or bitter flavors in medicines. This gives it a role in supplements, vitamins, oral care products and local oral anesthetics, cough and cold syrups, and veterinary drugs.

Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including Sucralose. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Get the Skinny on Sugar Substitutes

Occurring naturally in places like sugarcane, sugar beets, and honey, sugar has long been the sweetener of choice. However, within the past half-century, other products have shown up next to sugar on grocery store shelves, touting their low-calorie advantages with the same or even sweeter taste. Sugar substitutes now line the shelves in a variety of forms. Take a look at some of the different kinds below.

• Sucralose: Derived from sucrose – common table sugar – sucralose is sugar with a twist, literally! The chemical formula is altered by replacing 3 hydrogen-oxygen groups with chlorine atoms, which changes both the shape of the overall molecule and the way it interacts with the body. While remaining sweet, the molecule is not accumulated as extra energy the way sugar molecules are. Sucralose is potent – approximately 600 times sweeter than sucrose – and can be added as a liquid or solid in foods and beverages. Because sucralose passes through the body unimpeded, diabetic patients are able to consume sucralose with no worry when it is added to foods or drinks. Bacteria do not use sucralose as a food source either, so cavities do not form from eating foods with sucralose as a sweetener.

• Aspartame: With its clean, sweet taste, aspartame enhances citrus and fruit flavors. Chewing gum containing aspartame remains sweet almost 4 times longer than similar gum containing sucrose. Much like sucralose, the chemical composition of aspartame (C13H18O5N2) causes it to flush from the body without being stored as an energy source. Therefore, diabetic patients are able to enjoy foods and beverages containing aspartame, and consumers will not suffer dental caries from consuming aspartame.

• Stevia: A recent newcomer to the sugar substitute stage is stevia. Unlike other sugar substitutes, stevia is derived directly from a plant, much like how cane sugar is derived from sugarcane. The stevia plant, related to ragweed and daisies, has been used locally for hundreds of years in Paraguay and Brazil as an herb to sweeten foods, treat burns, and cure illnesses, such as colic and upset stomachs. With zero calories, stevia is 200 times sweeter than table sugar in the same concentration.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports in a 2012 interview that approximately 24% of adults and 12% of children use sugar substitutes, and that market is only continuing to expand. Keep up with the demand by ordering these food-grade ingredients and many others from Bell Chem, your Jacksonville chemical supplier. Bell Chem’s headquarters are located in Longwood, FL – just north of Orlando – with hundreds of products stocked in our 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.