What is the sweetener Sorbitol in Kera vegetable candy?

Kera candy is advertised on the social networking site of Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company.

On April 4, Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang Du Muc along with some members of Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company (CER) were prosecuted and temporarily detained by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency (C01) for defrauding customers . These are two famous names on social networks and often livestream to sell products with large revenue.

C01 identified the Kera Super Greens Gummies (Kera vegetable candy) as a "counterfeit" food supplement, announced by CER, which was launched on the market in late 2024 and has sold at least 135,300 boxes. The candy was produced by ASIA LIFE Joint Stock Company in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, under CER's order.

The candy was advertised by Hang Du Muc and Quang Linh Vlogs when they livestreamed to sell "can replace green vegetables in meals", but in reality the quality of the inspection was far worse than advertised. "The defendants' actions have caused public outrage and seriously affected the rights of consumers", according to the investigation agency's announcement.

Meanwhile, the test results of the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene showed that the indicators of protein, sugar, fat, and total energy content were basically consistent with the product's self-declaration. The safety indicators of microorganisms, fungi, heavy metals, etc. did not detect any abnormalities.

However, the National Institute for Food Safety Control discovered that the product contained Sorbitol - a sweetener with a content of 33.4/100g, but was not listed on the product label as prescribed.

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol (polyol) with the chemical formula C6H14O6, known as an organic compound commonly found in the food and medical industries. In liquid form, Sorbitol is white, odorless, has a slightly sweet taste and is completely soluble in water or alcohol. This is a sweetener permitted for use in food, and also has the ability to retain moisture and create shine for products.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Sorbitol is about 60% as sweet as sucrose but contains fewer calories, only about 2.6 kcal per gram compared to 4 kcal for regular sugar. Sorbitol occurs naturally in fruits such as apples, pears, and plums, and can also be produced artificially from glucose through the process of hydrogenation.

Introduced in the food industry in 1929 in the US, Sorbitol is now recognized as safe by the FDA. According to regulations, foods can contain up to 7% Sorbitol. This type of sweetener is increasingly popular in reducing sugar in the diet, not only helping to improve nutritional quality but also improving food texture.

In addition to its role in food, Sorbitol is also widely used in the cosmetics and personal care industries. Thanks to its ability to moisturize, soften and smooth the skin, Sorbitol is often present in skin creams, gel bases and is very familiar in toothpaste, where it both stabilizes the texture and enhances the feeling of freshness.

In the food industry, Sorbitol also plays an important role in keeping cookies, dried fruits, peanut butter, and other low-moisture products moist. In baked goods, it not only keeps the product soft but also acts as a plasticizer, limiting the burning process when baking.

In the pharmaceutical field, Sorbitol has many important applications. It is a common ingredient in laxatives, often used in the form of oral solutions to relieve constipation. At the same time, Sorbitol is also used as an excipient in tablets or products containing vitamin C, playing a supporting role in the drug production process.

In addition to its benefits, Sorbitol can cause side effects if consumed in excess. When consuming more than 10 grams per day, some people may experience diarrhea and abdominal pain, although the incidence is not high. When consumed in excess, especially over 50 grams per day, Sorbitol can cause laxative effects, digestive disorders, leading to diarrhea and intestinal imbalance.

The FDA recommends that consumers carefully read product labels, monitor their Sorbitol intake, and consult a healthcare professional if they experience any unusual symptoms.

TB (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/chat-tao-ngot-sorbitol-co-trong-keo-rau-cu-kera-la-gi-408856.html