Sugar Alcohols
AdditiveOverview
Sugar alcohols or polyols including sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, and mannitol are industrially-produced sweeteners created through catalytic hydrogenation of sugars and starches. These compounds appear frequently in ultra-processed foods marketed as "sugar-free" while providing 0.2-2.6 calories per gram and serving as definitive NOVA Group 4 classification markers.
48,094
Products contain this
1,054
Ingredient variations
Common forms
Sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, mannitol
Function
Sugar alcohols function as humectants for moisture retention, bulking agents for texture modification, and crystallization inhibitors in processed food manufacturing. These polyols provide antimicrobial properties for shelf-life extension while enabling "sugar-free" and "reduced calorie" labeling claims in packaged foods and manufactured food ingredients.
Sources
Industrial production involves specialized catalytic hydrogenation using Raney nickel catalysts to convert sugars like lactose (lactitol), glucose (sorbitol), or xylose (xylitol) into their corresponding alcohol derivatives. Manufacturing requires sophisticated chemical plants with quality control systems including HPLC analysis and mass spectrometry for purity verification.
Health Considerations
Sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal distress including bloating and diarrhea due to osmotic effects and bacterial fermentation in the large intestine. While generally producing lower blood glucose responses than sugar, these compounds indicate industrial processing methods typical of ultra-processed food manufacturing.
Regulatory
The FDA classifies major sugar alcohols as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), with sorbitol affirmed under 21 CFR 184.1835 and others receiving self-affirmed GRAS status. Importantly, sugar alcohols are not classified as "added sugars" under current labeling requirements, creating potential consumer confusion about processing levels.
Common Variations (50 total)
Products Containing Sugar Alcohols
Showing 12 of 48,094 products, sorted by processing level