People suffering from diabetes or dreaming of getting rid of extra pounds often exclude sugar from their daily diet and replace it with various analogues. They are called artificial sweeteners, believing that such substances can really become an excellent alternative in nutrition. Among such substitutes, it is worth highlighting sucralose, which is labeled on food products as E955. This synthesized white powder is almost 600 times sweeter than regular sugar, so a few milligrams of the substance is enough to get sweet tea or coffee.
What are the benefits of sucralose?
The food supplement E 955 was developed in 1976 by British nutritionists who offered their own version of an alternative to sugar. True, this substance is still obtained from granulated sugar through special processing, as a result of which sucralose gets rid of too high calorie content without losing its taste. Moreover, E955 has fundamentally new properties, thanks to which this preservative is widely used today in the food industry. Thus, sucralose not only dissolves perfectly in water, regardless of the concentration level, but also remains stable during heat treatment. However, this supplement does not increase blood glucose levels, which is very important for people who suffer from diabetes. It should also be noted that sucralose does not have a negative effect on tooth enamel and is not a risk factor for the development of caries, which cannot be said about regular sugar. Therefore, it is not surprising that these days many manufacturers are very willing to replace it with E955.
Scope of application of sucralose
If initially this substance was created for people with various endocrine disorders, today, due to its versatility and relative safety, E955 is used in many sectors of the food industry. This preservative is added to yoghurts and milk creams, carbonated drinks and sweets, jams, jellies and various types of desserts. In addition, E955 can be used to preserve fruits and extend the shelf life of sauces. Chewing gum, baked goods, frozen processed foods, and even some types of seasonings today require sucralose.
This food supplement is also sold in the form of miniature tablets, which can be added to various dishes and drinks instead of sugar. In addition, E 955 is used in pharmacology, when it is necessary to find an alternative to glucose in medications.
Is surcalose dangerous to health?
Scientific research on this substance was carried out in various countries around the world, and the longest tests of E955 lasted almost 15 years, covering various segments of the population. Their results turned out to be quite optimistic, as it turned out that in minimal quantities, surcalose is absolutely harmless to health. Moreover, it can be included in the diet of not only children, but also women during pregnancy and lactation, which will not affect their health at all. True, it should be taken into account that The maximum permissible dosage of this preservative in the human body is 5 mg per 1 kg of body weight. In order to achieve such a concentration of the substance, you will have to work hard. After all, surcalose is easily excreted in the urine within 24 hours after entering the body. Thanks to this, it is almost impossible to be poisoned by E 955, although with increased sensitivity to this substance, even a small dose of it can cause attacks of mild nausea in some people.
In general, it should be taken into account that surcalose cannot penetrate the brain, amniotic sac, breast milk or internal organs. And this is where the danger lies in using this substance as a permanent sugar substitute. The lack of glucose in the body leads to a decrease in brain performance, deterioration of memory, vision, and even a dullness of smell.
General characteristics and receipt
Food additive E955 (scientific name - 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-β-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside, or sucralose) is used as a sweetener not only in desserts, but also in vegetable preserves, as well as semi-finished products from fish, crustaceans and shellfish, and fish marinades.
The substance is obtained synthetically in laboratory conditions. To do this, regular sugar is treated with sulfuryl chloride. Normally, the first contains three hydroxyl groups of sucrose. After a chemical reaction, three chlorine atoms appear in the molecule instead. This method of producing E955 was first used in 1976 in Britain.
Physico-chemical properties of E955:
- state of aggregation is solid, in the form of a powder with small crystals or granules;
- white color, almost no odor;
- tastes sweet, cloying;
- when heated to a temperature of 125° C, it begins to melt;
- the E955 additive is characterized by good solubility in water - up to 28 g can be dissolved in 100 ml;
- the substance withstands various methods of heat treatment, including pasteurization and sterilization;
- retains taste characteristics even in an acidic environment;
- Sucralose dissolves freely in alcohols;
- cannot be dissolved in fatty solvents;
- E955 goes well with fructose and invert syrup (the taste of the finished product or drink becomes more pronounced).
Purpose
Sucralose is used instead of sugar more often than other types of sweeteners for several reasons. The substance is highly resistant when exposed to acids and high temperatures. This ability is relevant in the production of yoghurts and purees, since at the initial stages of preparation the initial mass is subjected to pasteurization and sterilization.
The second reason is taste characteristics. The substance is not just sweet, it is cloying. The taste is 600 times more intense than sugar. To achieve the desired taste, you can limit yourself to a minimal amount of additive (sugar would be needed 600 times more). And this significantly reduces the costs of manufacturers.
Despite the intense taste, the energy value of the products does not change, which cannot be said about sugar. For the latter, this figure is 350-370 kcal (per 100 g of product). For the food additive E955 it tends to zero. This makes products containing sucralose instead of sugar more attractive to consumers.
Another reason for the demand for the substance is the possibility of using “dietary” products. Proper nutrition has gradually become a trend. Many products, such as snacks, nuts, yoghurts with fruit fillings, glazed cheese curds and other snack options have ceased to be popular. Thanks to sucralose, manufacturers can reduce the energy value of the finished product, while its composition and taste will not be affected.
In various food products, the role of E955 is reduced to enhancing taste in parallel with reducing overall calorie content. In some cases, sucralose can act as a stabilizer, that is, a substance that preserves the shape, presentable appearance of the product, its taste characteristics, and consistency. This additive withstands both high temperatures and freezing.
The most popular products that contain sucralose are various types of desserts (based on fruits, berries, with milk or cream cream), ice cream, baked goods and flour products. The additive is also found in soft drinks, especially if it is a drink from the “diet” category (for example, sweet soda).
Less commonly, sucralose is added to fish and vegetable preserves. In the first case, the substance is used to “ennoble” the taste, in the second – to preserve the shape, color and consistency of the product.
Effect on the human body: benefits and harms
Most sources indicate that sucralose does not cause harm to the human body if you do not exceed the daily allowance of 15 mg per kilogram of body weight.
The negative impact of the E955 supplement is due to the fact that the body cannot absorb it. No more than 15% is absorbed in the digestive organs (they are excreted naturally within 24 hours). If you regularly exceed the daily dose recommended by doctors, an allergic response is possible in the form of skin inflammation, itching, redness, and indigestion.
During scientific research, it was found that sucralose, unlike other sweeteners, does not penetrate the placenta and does not end up in breast milk. Theoretically, it can be consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but most doctors recommend eliminating all potential risk factors.
The human body does not receive any obvious benefit from E955. However, the substance can indirectly help with some diseases. For example, for diabetes mellitus, doctors recommend replacing sugar with sweeteners, including low-calorie products with sucralose. This will avoid sharp fluctuations in blood glucose levels and also control body weight.
Use and application
Sucralose is added to medications, including for children. The substance gives cough lozenges and mixtures a pleasant taste, so that children do not become capricious while taking the medicine.
It is necessary to control the use of this additive in food products where it is contained (Table 1).
Table 1 - Standard content of food additive E955 sucralose in products according to SanPiN 2.3.2.1293-03 dated May 26, 2008
|
Food product |
Maximum level of E955 content in products, mg/kg |
|
Soft drinks based on flavors, fruit juices and dairy products with no added sugar or reduced calorie content |
|
|
Desserts flavored on a water, grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy, egg and fat basis without added sugar or with reduced calorie content |
|
|
Confectionery products without added sugar or with reduced calorie content: |
|
|
starch based |
|
|
based on cocoa, dried fruits |
|
|
sandwiches filled with cocoa, dairy products, dried fruits, fat |
|
|
chewing gum without added sugar |
|
|
ice cream without added sugar or with reduced calorie content |
|
|
popsicles without added sugar or with reduced calorie content |
|
|
Canned fruits without added sugar or with reduced calorie content |
|
|
Jams, preserves and marmalade with reduced calorie content |
|
|
Reduced calorie processed fruit and vegetable products |
|
|
Butter bakery and flour confectionery products |
|
|
Fruit and vegetable sweet and sour preserves |
|
|
Sweet and sour preserves from fish, fish marinades, crustaceans and mollusks |
Legislation
In most countries of the world, including Russia, the E955 additive is included in the list of permitted ones. Russian legislation determines the use of this additive in food products based on SanPiN 2.3.2.1293-03 dated May 26, 2008:
- 3.15.7. Hygienic regulations for the use of sweeteners;
- the use of E955 is provided for by GOST R 53904-2010 “Food additives. Food sweeteners. Terms and Definitions".
You can learn more about the sweetener sucralose from the video below.
E-955 Sucralose (trichlorogalactosucrose) – food additive, sweetener.
Characteristic:
Sucrolose is a relatively new synthetic, calorie-free sugar substitute. It is a white crystalline substance without a specific odor with an intense sweet taste, similar to sugar, but its sweetness is 600 times greater, and also 2 times sweeter than saccharin and 4 times aspartame. It is highly soluble in water and alcohols, moderately soluble in esters, and insoluble in fats. Unlike aspratame, sucralose has high stability under high temperatures and a wide range of pH balance, so it is used in long-term storage products, maintaining its taste characteristics. In its industrial form, sucralose is obtained by chlorinating sucrose with sulfuryl chloride, followed by isomers and other chlorination products.
Application:
Food supplement E-955 It is used in food production as a sugar substitute and sweetener in many countries, including it is approved in the Russian Federation, the EU, Canada and Australia. In the Russian Federation it is allowed as a sweetener in the following product groups:
- in fruit and vegetable sweet and sour preserves, in sweet and sour preserves from fish, fish marinades, crustaceans and mollusks in quantities up to 150 mg/kg;
- in soft drinks based on flavors, fruit juices, dairy products without added sugar or with reduced calorie content in amounts up to 300 mg/kg;
- in water-based, grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy, egg, fat-based flavored desserts without added sugar or with reduced calorie content, in ice cream, fruit ice without added sugar or with reduced calorie content in an amount of up to 400 mg/kg;
- in canned fruits without added sugar or with reduced calorie content, in jams, preserves, marmalade with reduced calorie content, in processed fruits and vegetables with reduced calorie content in amounts up to 450 mg/kg;
- in rich bakery and flour confectionery products in amounts up to 800 mg/kg;
- in confectionery products with reduced calorie content or without added sugar: sandwiches with filling based on cocoa, dairy products, dried fruits, fat in amounts up to 1 g/kg;
- in confectionery products with reduced calorie content or without added sugar based on starch, cocoa, dried fruits in amounts up to 1.5 g/kg;
- in chewing gum without added sugar in amounts up to 5 g/kg. Sucralose is also actively used in pharmaceuticals, in solid and liquid dietary supplements.
Impact on the human body:
The maximum permissible daily dose of sucralose is set at 15 mg of the substance per 1 kg of body weight. Once in the human body, a food additive E-955 almost unchanged is excreted from it along with urine during the day. Without staying in the human body, it does not enter the brain and cannot cross the placental barrier in pregnant women or penetrate into mother's milk. This sweetener does not interact with other nutrients and does not promote insulin release, so it is safe for diabetics. It has no calories and does not cause dental caries. If the maximum permissible dose of daily consumption of sucrolose is exceeded, there is a high probability of skin irritation (itching, rash, swelling), disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, rapid heartbeat, respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, runny nose, cough), itching in the eyes. For now E-955 considered the safest synthetic sweetener based on numerous studies conducted on laboratory mice and rats. And sucralose It is completely biodegradable and non-toxic to fish and aquatic organisms.
A relatively new (discovered in 1976) synthetic sugar substitute Sucralose (trichlorogalactosucrose) or Sucralose (Trichlorogalactosucrose) is also known as food additive E955. It is called TGS for short and is also known as Splenda.
The process of obtaining Sucralose is quite complex, and one of its important components is the chlorination of sucrose with sulfuryl chloride. In its finished form, this substance is white and odorless crystals, which have a very sweet taste - 600 times sweeter than sucrose! It is easily soluble in water and alcohols, moderately soluble in esters and not at all soluble in fatty solvents. One of its most important properties is high stability, incl. to the effect of temperature.
Additive E955 serves as a sweetener in the food industry of many countries, including it is approved in the Russian Federation, EU, Canada and Australia. In Russia, the list of products where this additive can be used was significantly expanded in 2010 compared to 2003. And now it is allowed to be included in the following products: water-based, flavored soft drinks based on fruit juices, milk and dairy products without added sugar or with reduced calorie content; alcoholic drinks with an alcohol content of no more than 15% vol.; apple and pear cider; drinks containing a mixture of soft drinks and beer or cider (apple, pear), wine, alcoholic beverages; beer with reduced calorie content; non-alcoholic beer or with an alcohol content of no more than 1.2% vol.; other types of specialty beer; desserts flavored on a water, grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy, egg, fat basis, without added sugar or with reduced calorie content; "snacks" flavored, ready to eat; packaged dry spicy products based on starch and nuts; confectionery products without added sugar based on starch, cocoa and dried fruits, incl. in tablet form; “cooling” microsweets without added sugar; spreads for sandwiches based on cocoa, dairy products, dried fruits, fat; chewing gum without added sugar; ice cream (except cream and milk), fruit ice with reduced calorie content or without added sugar, as well as waffles and cones for them; jams, jellies and marmalade with reduced calorie content; canned and pasteurized fruits with reduced calorie content or without added sugar; processed fruit and vegetable products with reduced calorie content, incl. fruit and vegetable sweet and sour preserves; sweet and sour preserves from fish, fish marinades, crustaceans and mollusks; sauces and mustard; breakfast cereals made from cereals with a dietary fiber content of more than 15% or bran of at least 20% with reduced calorie content or without added sugar; reduced calorie soups; rich bakery and flour confectionery products for dietary nutrition; dietary products for weight loss and therapeutic nutrition; solid and liquid biologically active food additives; as well as vitamins and minerals in the form of syrups and chewable tablets.
In the human body, Sucralose is practically not absorbed and is quickly excreted in the urine. Its safety for humans is still being discussed. On the one hand, there are statements supported by research about its complete safety, including for patients with diabetes. But on the other hand, it is said that these studies were only short-term in nature, and long-term studies in humans are required. In addition, there are complaints about side effects from this compound: skin irritations (itching, rash, swelling), gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, diarrhea), respiratory symptoms (runny nose, cough, shortness of breath), nervous system symptoms ( anxiety, depression, anger), as well as palpitations, itching in the eyes, etc. Currently, the maximum permissible daily intake dose has been established - 15 mg/kg body weight per day.
Sucralose is also used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Sucralose is a modern artificial sweetener. Products containing a sugar substitute are in demand by diabetics and overweight people. Let's learn all about the beneficial properties and possible harm of this substance for the human body.
What is this
Sucralose (E955) is widely used instead of sugar in the modern food industry in the production of drinks and food. An artificial sweetener was obtained from sugar by introducing a chlorine molecule into it.
Regular sugar consists of glucose and sucrose. Sucrose undergoes a complex 5-step chemical reaction, as a result of which the E955 additive is obtained in the form of white solid crystals. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar and has no odor.
Did you know? Sucralose was discovered in London by accident. Professor Leslie Hugh ordered his assistant, who spoke little English, to test a new chemical. The assistant mixed up the English« test» c« taste» and tasted it, unexpectedly discovered that it was very sweet.
Calories and nutritional value
Sucralose is low calorie, and almost does not participate in metabolic processes, 85% of it is excreted unchanged immediately, and 15% is excreted by the kidneys within 24 hours.
100 g of artificial sweetener contains 91.17 g and 8.83 g of water. The calorie content is 336 kcal and this is 19% of the daily carbohydrate intake for a person.
The benefits of sweetener
The sugar substitute was recently discovered in the 70s, but not much time passed to fully determine its effect on the body. It is considered safe and approved in many countries, as long as the dosage is observed.
Important! The daily intake of E955 for humans is 15 mg per 1 kg of body weight per day.
The use of a sweetener makes it possible to significantly reduce the calorie content of many foods, drinks and dishes. It is recommended for consumption by people with increased weight and diabetes, as it does not increase blood glucose levels and does not cause the release of insulin.
The sugar substitute preserves strong tooth enamel and does not contribute to the development of caries. It has the beneficial property of not accumulating in the body and is quickly eliminated.
A small E955 tablet replaces a piece of refined sugar.
Where is it used?
The modern E955 sweetener is often used in medicine and the food industry. It can significantly enhance the taste of other products and dishes.
Medicine
In medicine, E955 is used in the production of medicines and syrups, as it is much sweeter than ordinary sugar and is an alternative to glucose.
Did you know?Carbohydrate starvation of the body causes an increase in appetite, as a result, a person begins to eat more food and, instead of losing weight, gains weight.
Food industry
Sucralose is highly soluble in water, alcohol, perfectly enhances the taste and aroma, therefore it is widely used in the production of confectionery, baked goods and other food products.
In the food industry, sweetener is used in the production of:
- drinks;
- confectionery and baked goods;
- canned vegetables, fruits, sauces;
- dairy products;
- jams, jellies, marmalades, frozen desserts;
- baby food;
- chewing gum;
- seasonings, marinades.
Substance danger
There is no reliable data on the dangers of E955; it is considered safe when daily dosages are observed. But it becomes dangerous when heated in dry form to temperatures above 125 ° C - harmful substances are released. Anecdotal evidence suggests that long-term use may cause a decrease in the body's support functions and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Allergic reactions to artificial substances are possible.
Sucralose is used in the diet menu by people who are overweight, as it does not contain glucose. But with a significant lack of glucose, problems with vision and memory may occur and brain function will deteriorate.
Important!Artificial sweetener is not recommended for children under 14 years of age.
In the modern world, artificial substances are increasingly used everywhere. For many people with certain illnesses, doctors and nutritionists recommend consuming artificial sweeteners. And this allows them not to give up sweets without harm to their health. The main thing is to adhere to the recommended doses and not overuse sweeteners.
