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Positive Role of Low- and Reduced- Calorie Sweeteners Confirmed

Recently Published Position Statement Confirms Benefits,
Usefulness and Safety of Low- and Reduced- Calorie Sweeteners

ATLANTA (February 19, 2004) – The positive role low- and reduced-calorie sweeteners may play in the diet, “Position of the American Dietetic Association: Use of Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweeteners,” has been published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The updated position statement concludes that, “consumers who want the taste of added sweetness without added energy may select nonnutritive sweeteners to assist in the management of weight, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Nonnutritive sweeteners also have the potential to assist in dental health and dietary quality.”

There are currently five low-calorie sweeteners approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including acesulfame potassium, aspartame, neotame, saccharin and sucralose. These sweeteners are hundreds of times sweeter than sucrose and do not contribute calories to the diet. There are also a number of reduced-calorie sweeteners (polyols) available in the U.S., including erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrosylates, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol. Polyols contribute between and 0.2 and three calories per gram as opposed to sucrose, which contributes four calories per gram. Polyols not only contribute sweetness but also bulk, and are used in a variety of products.

“We are pleased to learn of the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) updated position statement,” noted Lyn Nabors, Executive Vice President of the Calorie Control Council. She added, “With the increasing rates of overweight and obesity, low and reduced calorie sweeteners and the products that use them offer consumers great taste with fewer calories – and controlling calories can aid in weight control and weight loss.”

A few of the ADA’s conclusions in the 2004 position statement are:

• Taken as a whole, nutritive and FDA-approved nonnutritive sweeteners are safe for children and pregnant women.”
• “Nonnutritive sweeteners added to the diet have been shown to promote modest loss of weight and, within a multidisciplinary weight-control program, may facilitate long-term maintenance of reduction in body weight.”
• “The rise in prevalence [of obesity] clearly relates to all factors that cause an energy imbalance. Individuals who wish to lose weight may choose to use nonnutritive sweeteners but should do so within the context of a sensible weight management program including a balanced diet and exercise.”
• “Foods containing polyols can be labeled as sugar-free because they replace sugar sweeteners. They also contain less energy than sugars and have other potential health benefits (eg, reduced glycemic response, decreased caries risk, prebiotic effects).”

According to a national consumer survey conducted by the Calorie Control Council, 79 percent of the U.S. adult population (or 163 million Americans) use low-calorie and sugar-free foods and beverages and two-thirds of Americans use such products several times a week or more. The survey also indicates that the number one reason for using such products is to “stay in better overall health.” Although a variety of low-calorie and sugar-free products are already available, most (76%) of those who currently use such products would like to see more available.

“Low-calorie and sugar-free products can be part of a healthy diet, as supported by the ADA’s updated position statement, and research shows that consumers find such products helpful and would like to see more developed,” said Ms. Nabors.

The abstract of the ADA’s updated sweetener position paper can be accessed through the following Web site:
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/SID-5303FFEA-92F276FF/ada/hs.xsl/home_3794_ENU_HTML.htm.

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The Calorie Control Council, established in 1966, is an international non-profit association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry. Today it represents 60 manufacturers and suppliers of low-calorie, low-fat and light foods and beverages, including the manufacturers and suppliers of more than a dozen different dietary sweeteners, fat replacers and other low-calorie ingredients.

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