Natural non-nutritive but healthier sweeteners

Abstract

Globally, the increasing adverse health effects of excessive consumption of natural nutritive sweeteners have lead to a significant interest in non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) among all age groups. The NNS approved by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has higher sweetness intensity than natural nutritive sugar. NNS when added to food they provide negligible calories and a promising healthier alternative to nutritive sweeteners for the dietary management of noncommunicable diseases. FSSAI has approved six non-nutritive artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, isomaltulose, neotame, and acesulfame potassium) for use in human food. Besides their benefits, metabolic products of these artificial sweeteners have found controversial health effects over animal studies. Therefore, intensive research activities are being devoted by scientists all over the world to find less controversial, plant-derived, organic zero-calorie or low calorie, and non- carcinogenic NNS which provides consumer a better choice to satisfy their innate desire for a sweet taste without adding calories. This review highlights natural NNS, including their sensory property, structural characteristics, and specific compounds contributing to their sweetness, uses, and food applications. The steviol glycoside is the only natural NNS that has been approved by FSSAI.