Determination Of Active Sweets Components Of Common Artificial Sweeteners That Are Used As Replacement For Sugar

INTRODUCTION:
A sugar substitute is a food additive that duplicates the effect of sugar in
taste, usually with less food energy. Some sugar substitutes are natural and
some are synthetic. Those that are not natural are in general, called artificial
sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes are found in a
variety of food and beverages marketed as sugar free or diet including soft
drinks, chewing gum, jellies, baked goods, candy, fruit juice and ice-cream
and yoghurt. [Whitney 2011]
People may not all like the same kind of baked treats but one thing we all
agree on is that baked treats should be sweets usually, sugar is used to lend
sweetness to foods but would cake taste just as good if the baker used a
sugar substitutes instead of sugar? Many people prefer not to use sugar often
due to health reasons and instead depend on sugar substitutes to sweeten
their foods. But are sugar substitutes the same as sugar? What exactly are the
differences between sugar and sugar substitutes?
Sugar also known as sucrose comes from plants like sugar cane and sugar
beets and is a carbohydrate. Sugar adds bulk to cakes, cookies and all kinds
of treats; sugar also causes browning and caramelizing in foods when it is
heated as when cookies turn golden brown in the oven sugar is a natural
substance, something that our bodies can use for energy.
Sugar substitutes come in three categories; artificial sweeteners, sugar
alcohols and natural sweeteners. Artificialsweeteners are attractive because
they add almost no calories to foods and are sometimes a part of weight loss
programs. Also they donot increase blood sugar levels which mean that
diabetics can use them. Many artificial sweeteners like sucralose were
discovered by accident in the laboratory. In 1976, a scientist in England was
studying different compounds made from sugar. The scientist asked a
student to test the compounds but instead the student tested them. Another
category of sugar substitutes is sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols are not
alcoholic beverages they do not contain ethanol which is found in alcoholic
beverages. Sugar alcohols like sugar have calories and energy but not
asmuch as sugar. Sugar alcohols like artificial sweeteners do not contribute
to tooth decay and affect blood sugar levels slowly so diabetics can use them.
Although sugar alcohols like xylitol, sorbitol and erythritol are manufactured
products the sources are often natural.
The last category of sugar substitutes is called natural substitutes. The
categories include maple syrup, agave nectar and honey. These substances
are absorbed by our digestive system and contain calories and nutrients that
our bodies can use. [Michelle 2002]
The chart lists some popular sugar substitutes and how they‟re commonly
categorized:
Artificial
sweeteners
Acesulfame
potassium
(sunett,sweet
one)
Sugar alcohols
Erythritol
Novel
sweeteners
Stevia extracts
(pure via, truvia)
Natural
sweeteners
Agave nectar
Aspartame
(Equal,
Nutrasweet)
Hydrogenated
starch
hydrolysate.
Tegatose
(Naturlose)
Date sugar
Neotame Isomalt Trehalose Fruitjuice
concentrate
Saccharin
(sugartwin, sweet
“N” low
Lactitol Honey
Sucralose
(splenda)
Maltitol Maple syrup
Mannitol Molasses
Sorbitol
Xylitol

1.1 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
AIM: To create an alternative to sugar by replicating the sweetnessfound in
natural sugar.
Objectives:
To determine how the sweetness of sugar substitutes compare to the
sweetness of sugar. In this research sugar and sugar substitutes will be
tested and the sweetness will be compare in relation to sugar.
To compare the availability and affordability of the active components
in the artificial sweetener and sugar
To know the components of this artificial sweetener and what makes
them taste sweet

1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Artificial sweetener mimicking the taste of sugar will be a better alternative
to people who are suffering from diabetics. Unlike sugar, artificial
sweeteners generally don‟t raise blood sugar levels because they are not
carbohydrates