The FDA just approved a sugar alternative that has 70 percent of sugar’s sweetness, but only 10 percent of its calories. Now here’s the exciting part, the new sugar alternative has no tooth-decaying effect.
Sounds too good to be true, right? But it’s real.
Allulose is a relatively new sugar alternative that has caught the eye of consumers and recently, earned the approval of the FDA. Here is what you should know about it.
What is Allulose?
It’s a naturally occurring substance that can be found in wheat, raisins, jackfruits, and figs.
Allulose not only looks like sugar, but it also mimics that sweet taste too. As such, its uses are nearly endless.
From sweetening coffee or tea to mixing it with baked goods, Allulose is fast becoming the choice sugar alternative. But, it wasn’t always like that.
In the past, manufacturers using the sweetener were required to declare it in their nutritional fact panel and count it towards the total sugar content. But it all changed last Wednesday, on April 17.
In what many are calling a historic move, the FDA announced that products containing Allulose no longer have to declare it in the food nutrition labels. According to Healthline, this is the first time the FDA has ever allowed manufacturers to exclude a sugar product from nutritional labels.
In the news release, director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Susan Mayne wrote;
“We want Americans to be able to easily determine the most relevant, useful information available when looking at Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels.”
So what prompted the change of mind?
Allulose As A Viable Sugar Alternative For Diabetics
Unlike other sugars, the human body metabolizes Allulose in a slightly different manner.
Latest data suggests that the sweetener has fewer calories and produces very little increase in blood glucose level compared with other sweeteners. Also, it does not cause tooth decay.
For these reasons, Allulose earned the FDA’s approval.
Mayne wrote in the release that;
We’ve issued guidance today stating that we intend to exercise enforcement discretion to allow Allulose to be excluded from the total and added sugars declarations on the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels when Allulose is used as an ingredient.”
With that said, the sugar alternative will still count towards calories.
All That Sweet May Be Bad For You
Although Allulose has fewer calories and carbohydrate that other sugar alternatives, including table sugar itself, health professionals recommend caution – and here is why.
The sugar alternative is still relatively new. As such, no research exists that explains how safe or healthy it is when consumed regularly.
Past studies have linked artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and saccharin with cancer. And research is yet to determine whether Allulose causes the same health issue.
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