Title: Alternative Sweeteners

Tagatose 125
In conclusion, tagatose has three major areas of application:
1. Low-calorie bulk sweetener: Based on a significantly lower caloric
value than sucrose, yet having a similar level of sweetness and similar
physical bulking structure, tagatose can be used as a low-calorie bulk
sweetener, replacing sugar and other sweeteners in different applications
at different dose levels.
2. Prebiotic sweetener: Replacing sucrose in various applications and
adding a prebiotic benefit.
3. Flavor enhancer: Tagatose added to sweetening systems based on potent
sweeteners or high-intensity sweeteners such as aspartame alone
or combinations of aspartame and acesulfame potassium improves the
flavor profile and the mouth-feel.
VII. TOXICOLOGY AND REGULATORY ASPECTS
Arla Foods Ingredients amba is currently seeking its self-affirmed GRAS status
for d-tagatose in the United States. All relevant studies to document the safety
of tagatose have been performed at FDA-approved research institutes. The key
articles documenting the safety of d-tagatose appear in the April 1999 issue of
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.
The FDA has approved the use of a factor of 1.5 kcal/g for calculating the
caloric value of tagatose.
VIII. CONCLUSION
With its broad range of properties, tagatose has a unique application profile and
is set to be one of the major low-calorie bulk sweeteners of the future.
REFERENCES
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of d-tagatose in nature. Nature 163(4135):177, 1949.
2. E Troyano, I Martinez-Castro, A Olano. Kinetics of galactose and tagatose formation
during heat-treatment of milk. Food Chem 45:41–43, 1992.
3. G Crouzoulon. Les proprietes cinetiques du flux d’entree du fructose a travers la
bordure en brosse du jejunum du rat. Arch Int Physiol Biochim 86:725–740, 1978.
4. K Sigrist-Nelson, U Hopfer. A distinct d-fructose transport system in isolated brush
border membrane. Biochim Biophys Acta 367:247–254, 1974.