The Calorie Control Council takes this opportunity to respond to points discussed in a paper, “Severe Weight Loss Caused by Chewing Gum,” recently published in the British Medical Journal.  The authors note that the polyol or sugar alcohol, sorbitol, found in reduced-calorie products such as gums, candies, etc., may cause diarrhea.  It is important for consumers and health professionals to understand the following regarding products that contain sorbitol or other polyols (reduced calorie sweeteners).

• For the vast majority of consumers, polyols do not cause a problem. In some people, over consumption of polyol-containing foods may cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including laxative effects, similar to reactions to beans, cabbage and certain high-fiber foods. Such symptoms are dependent upon an individual's sensitivity and the other foods eaten along with the polyol-containing product.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as a feeling of fullness, gas, or laxative effects) from consuming foods with polyols, if they occur at all, are usually mild and temporary. Most people will adapt to polyols after a few days, the same way they do to high fiber foods – although some individuals may be more sensitive.
• Food manufacturers are advised to inform consumers of these possible effects through product labeling.
• Consumers may identify the use of polyols by looking at the ingredient list as the name of the polyol appears in the ingredient list. The words "sugar alcohol" or the specific name of the polyol may also appear in the Nutrition Facts panel.  The amount of grams in a serving may be shown voluntarily, however, if a claim such as "sugar free" is made on the label, the polyol content must be shown in the Nutrition Facts panel. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations specify that the name of the specific polyol may appear in the Nutrition Facts Panel if only one polyol is in the food. If more than one is in the food, the term "sugar alcohols" must be used. In the European Union (EU), sorbitol appears on the food label as sorbitol or by its E-number, E420.
   
• Specifically, Sorbitol has been affirmed as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is approved for use by the European Union and numerous countries around the world, including Australia, Canada and Japan. It has been studied and deemed safe by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), Scientific Committee for Food (now the European Food Safety Authority). Both have assigned sorbitol an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) “not specified,” the most favorable ADI possible.
• The FDA’s regulation for sorbitol requires the following label statement for foods whose reasonably foreseeable consumption may result in the daily ingestion of 50 grams of sorbitol: “Excess consumption may have a laxative effect.” In the EU, foods containing more than 10% added sorbitol must be labeled: "Excessive consumption may produce laxative effects."

Polyols provide fewer calories per gram than does sugar, they do not promote tooth decay and they do not cause sudden increases in blood glucose levels. Because they taste good, people can improve the healthfulness of their diets without having to sacrifice the pleasure of eating sweet foods they enjoy. Sugar-free and reduced-calorie products, including sugar-free chewing gums, may assist consumers in maintaining good oral health, maintaining or reducing weight (since they have fewer calories than other carbohydrates, including sugar) and reducing glycemic load.  For more information, visit www.polyol.org.

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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.