Sweeteners

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Sweeteners

• Hazel Riggall
• Clinical Specialist Paediatric Dietitian

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To cover

• An overview of artificial sweeteners and sugar
  substitutes
• Whats new?
• Recipes
• Questions

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Artificial or Intense Sweeteners

• Calorie -free
• Aspartame E951(Canderel),
• Saccharin E954 (Hermesetas)
• Acesulfame K E950 (Hermesetas Gold- also contains
  Aspartame)
• Stevia (Truvia, Hermesetas Stevia) NEW
• Low calorie
• Sucralose E955 (Splenda)

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Stevia (Truvia)

• Extracted from a plant related to daisies,
  sunflowers and chrysanthemum (Stevia) found in S.
  America
• Leaves used by indigenous population to sweeten
  drinks since 1800s
• Available in sachets or jar as a powder
• ? teaspoon Truvia 1 teaspoon sugar
• 300 x sweeter than sugar (sucrose)
• Approved for use in EU in Nov 2011

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Bulk or Nutritive Sweeteners

• Sugar alcohols or Polyols (sorbitol, maltilol,
  xylitol, isomalt)
• Generally, not recommended as not calorie- free
  and have a laxative effect, especially in young
• Exceptions
• Sugar-free gum (recommended by dentists as
  toothkind) xylitol
• Small amount of sweets (1-2 at a time)-isomalt

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Fructose (fruit sugar)

• Commonly added to many products
• Sometimes used in products labelled as suitable
  for 'Diabetics'
• Same energy value as ordinary sugar
• Expensive if bought in powder form but cheap to
  produce
• Can have a laxative effect

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Safety concerns

• All sweeteners have been approved by Food
  Standard Agency (FSA) and in EU by European Food
  safety Authority (EFSA)
• Rigorous testing and 100s scientific papers
  published

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Safety concerns

• Safe doses (acceptable daily intake or ADI)
  established. Unlikely to overdose
• 'Scare' stories appear in media/websites treat
  with scepticism

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Healthy Recipes in Braille and large type

• 6 recipes developedso far !
• Thai style turkey burgers
• Shepherds pie
• Basic vegetable soup
• Lemon and chilli chicken noodles
• Simple pizza
• Chocolate fondue/fruit for dipping
• Any further ideas to develop???

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Any questions?

• Thank you