Sucralose – what is it? Uses and properties

There are several categories of products that can replace sugar in meals, snacks and desserts. One category that is very popular in large-scale production is sweeteners. These compounds are generally much sweeter than sugar, so they can be used in very small quantities and can be considered low in calories. Some of them are not digested by digestive tract enzymes and provide no calories at all. An example of a sweetener with a wide range of applications is sucralose.

1. Sucralose – calories and sweetness level
2. Sucralose – applications
3. Products containing sucralose

Sucralose – calories and sweetness level

Sucralose is a sweetener similar in structure to sucrose, or table sugar. It is the first sugar substitute that was created from sucrose. This sweetener was developed by modifying the chemical structure of table sugar in such a way that the body cannot obtain calories from it. The elements of the molecule characteristic of the enzyme that would normally digest this type of carbohydrate cannot perform their standard activity.

Sucralose is also not broken down by intestinal bacteria and passes completely into the excretory system. In addition to being a calorie-free sweetener, it is 600 times sweeter than sucrose. Few sweeteners are as resistant to changes in pH or temperature as sucralose. Its sweetness, calorie-free nature and stability in changing environmental conditions make sucralose suitable for a wide range of applications.

Sucralose – applications

This sweetener is insensitive to both acidic and alkaline environments, which means it can be mixed with many types of beverages, dishes and desserts without losing its properties. It also tolerates long storage and high temperatures well, making it suitable for use in various types of baked goods.

Even in small amounts, sucralose has an intensely sweet taste and can be used in many sugar-free alternatives to conventional mass-produced sweets. It dissolves easily in water, fats and solvents such as ethanol. What is more, sucralose is often an ingredient in flavoured protein supplements and other supplements with different flavours, available in soluble form.

Products containing sucralose

The list of products to which sucralose is added is long, as it is an inexpensive sweetener that is easy to process and store. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is a safe additive in up to 15 categories of food products.

It is often found in beverages, sauces, syrups, chewing gum, and even jellies and ice cream. Other sweeteners, such as acesulfame K or aspartame, are sometimes used to complement the sweet taste of sucralose. The acceptable intake level for sucralose is approximately 9 mg/kg of body weight, which means that a person weighing around 70 kg could drink up to a dozen sugar-free drinks a day.