Is the sweetener sorbitol found in Kera vegetable candy good or bad?

However, this ingredient is not listed on the product label as required.

Sorbitol is an organic compound of the sugar alcohol group with the chemical formula C6H14O6. Sorbitol is a white, odorless liquid with a sweet taste, and is completely soluble in water and alcohol. Sorbitol belongs to the group of sweetening additives, permitted for use in food. It also has the effect of creating shine and retaining moisture for food.

In industry, sorbitol is produced from glucose under the effect of high temperature and pressure hydrogenated with nickel, which can be understood as glucose hydrogenated with nickel catalyst to form sorbitol. In nature, this substance is often extracted from fruits and vegetables such as corn, pumpkin, apple, pear, raspberry, peach, prune...

In addition, sorbitol is also reducing, non-fermentable, and very resistant to bacterial attack. Sorbitol has the ability to form complexes with heavy metals, contributing to improving the preservation of fatty products.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines sorbitol as a sugar alcohol (polyol) that 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 is found in some fruits such as apples, pears, and plums and can also be produced from glucose through hydrogenation.

Is the sweetener sorbitol found in Kera vegetable candy good or bad?

In the United States, sorbitol has been used in the food industry since 1929. According to the FDA's "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) list, foods can contain up to 7% sorbitol. In fact, the use of sugar substitutes, including sorbitol, is becoming more common.

Sorbitol sweetener in industry

Sorbitol chemicals play an important role as stabilizers, antioxidants, humectants, emulsifiers..., so they are used in the production of paint compounds, polymers such as stabilizers, plastics used in casting, detergents, adhesives, leather, fabrics, textiles, electrochemistry, paper...

Sorbitol sweetener used as a foaming agent

Sorbitol is a sugar substitute that has up to 60% of the sweetness of cane sugar. Sorbitol is also known as a nutritive sweetener because it provides 2.6kcal of dietary energy per gram compared to the average 4kcal or 17calories for carbohydrates.

Foaming agents are found in foods such as: Peppermint, cough syrup and sugar-free chewing gum.

Sweetener Sorbitol is used in food

Sorbitol is used to moisturize the skin, making it soft and smooth, and as a stabilizer, so it is used in gels, skin creams, and especially toothpaste... Sorbitol is considered the most popular food additive today.

This is a substance in the group of sweeteners, allowed to be used in food at the permitted dosage according to Vietnamese standards. Not only that, Sorbitol also has the effect of moisturizing and creating shine for food.

Sorbitol has a sweetness similar to about 60% of cane sugar with a cool sweetness, can be added to confectionery, food and chocolate to prevent food from drying and hardening by moisture with good stability. On the other hand, the aroma is kept and does not evaporate.

A prominent feature of sorbitol is that it is sweet but slowly absorbed, so it does not increase insulin levels like sugar and will not cause tooth decay, used in low-calorie candies and in many other foods and is also used to detoxify the liver, bleach meat and fish in processing...

In addition to its use as a sweetener and sugar substitute in foods with reduced sugar content, sorbitol is also used as a humectant in cookies and low-moisture foods such as fruit preserves and peanut butter. In baked goods, the chemical also works because it acts as a thickener and slows burning.

Sorbitol sweetener used in medicine

Sorbitol can be used as a laxative through a dietary supplement or suspension. It is used as an excipient in the production of vitamin C-containing drugs and oral tablets. It is certified as safe for use by the elderly, although it is not recommended without medical advice.

Other medical applications include: use in bacterial culture media; treatment of hyperkalemia also uses sorbitol and ion-exchange polystyrene sulfonate resins. Sorbitol has been identified as a potentially important chemical intermediate for the production of fuels from biomass sources, which can be used as biofuels.

In addition to its benefits, sorbitol also has 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 laxatives, digestive disorders, leading to diarrhea. It can be seen that although widely used in food and pharmaceuticals, sorbitol is not completely harmless if consumed in excess.

Therefore, the FDA recommends that consumers carefully read the ingredients on product labels, control the amount of sorbitol consumed, and consult a medical professional if there are any unusual signs.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/chat-tao-ngot-sorbitol-phat-hien-trong-keo-rau-cu-kera-loi-hay-hai.html