What are sweeteners? - Answers Compounds used as sugar alternatives to add sweetness to foods,
often targeting lower calorie content or altering nutrient and flavor profiles.
What is the primary purpose of sweeteners in food? - Answers Sweeteners are often used to create low-
calorie products, alter nutrient profiles, and appeal to people's preference for sweet flavors.
What are artificial sweeteners? - Answers Compounds that are intensely sweet but contribute zero
calories and have no impact on blood glucose levels.
What are sugar substitutes? - Answers Compounds, either synthetic or natural, that taste sweet but
have minimal to no impact on blood glucose and may or may not contain calories.
What are natural sweeteners? - Answers Sweeteners derived from natural sources, often containing
calories, that can cause tooth decay but generally have a lower impact on blood glucose than sucrose or
glucose.
What are sugar alcohols? - Answers Low glycemic index products that are slowly absorbed and generally
have minimal effects on blood glucose but may have laxative effects in high quantities.
What are some examples of sugar alcohols approved in Canada? - Answers Examples include isomalt,
maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol, commonly found in gum and certain other products.
What is aspartame? - Answers An artificial sweetener roughly 180 times sweeter than sucrose, used in
products like Equal or Sweet'n Low, which may need a PKU warning.
What are some artificial sweeteners approved in Canada? - Answers Approved sweeteners include
aspartame, saccharin, stevia, sucralose, and acesulfame-K.
How do sweeteners compare in sweetness to sucrose? - Answers Sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin,
and sucralose are hundreds of times sweeter than sucrose, allowing small amounts to achieve desired
sweetness levels.
How is sucralose processed by the body? - Answers Sucralose is not absorbed or digested and is
primarily excreted in feces.
How is stevia processed by the body? - Answers Stevia is not digestible, with a small amount absorbed
and processed in the liver before excretion through urine.
What is the potential toxicity concern with aspartame? - Answers Aspartame contains a methyl group
that can convert to methanol, but the amounts are minimal and generally not harmful.
Why do some consumers avoid artificial sweeteners? - Answers Some people prefer "clean eating" and
avoid foods with added chemicals or synthetic substances.