BRIEFING: An industry review of sweeteners

It used to be so easy. Have a cup of tea, throw a spoonful of sugar into it. Make a cake, put some sugar into it. But of course that’s no longer the case. Health issues have dictated otherwise. Driven by concerns over weight gain, moves to develop foods for diabetics and others who need to avoid sugar, and worries over tooth decay, companies have created alternatives to traditional sugar (sucrose). This has led to the formation of the multi-million pound and controversial alternative sweetener market. This report will look at the major alternative sweeteners currently available. It will look in detail at the sweeteners as well as considering some of the health issues raised by them. The report will also look at some of the many companies involved in their manufacture.