Exam 1 - Artificial Sweeteners Flashcards
Sugar has several functional properties in foods. What are these functional properties? (9)
- Sweetness
- Solubility
- Browning Reactions (Maillard Reaction or Caramelization)
- Texture
- Hygroscopicity
- Crystallization
- Fermentation
- Preservation
- Stabilizer
A good alternative sweetener is composed of what qualities? (6)
- Clean, sweet taste
- Odorless
- Safe
- Compatible with other food ingredients
- Stable in different food environments
- Work synergistically with other sweeteners
What is synergy?
Synergy is the use of different combinations of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners to create an end result that is more than the sum of the parts involved.
What are the two types of sweeteners? Compare and contrast them.
Nonnutritive (Low/Zero Calorie) Sweetener and Nutritive (Reduced Calorie) Sweetener.
Nonnutritive cannot be digested; nutritive can be digested.
What are the nonnutritive sweeteners currently approved and used in the U.S.? Also give their tabletop name. (5)
NASSA
- Saccharin (Sweet Nā Low)
- Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal)
- Sucralose (Splenda)
- Neotame (Food Additive)
- Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One)
Saccharin
Tabletop Name:
Heat:
Taste:
Calories:
Saccharin
Tabletop Name: Sweet Nā Low
Heat: Stable
Taste: Bitter Aftertaste
Calories: Zero Calories
Aspartame
Tabletop Name:
Heat:
Taste:
Calories:
Aspartame
Tabletop Name: Nutrasweet/Equal
Heat: Labile
Taste: Clean Aftertaste; enhances other flavors
Calories: 4 Calories/Gram
Sucralose
Tabletop Name:
Heat:
Calories:
*What is one of its characteristics?
Sucralose
Tabletop Name: Splenda
Heat: Stable
Calories: Zero Calories
*No bulking properties
Neotame
Tabletop Name:
Heat:
Taste:
Calories:
Neotame
Tabletop Name: *Food Additive
Heat: Stable
Calories: Zero Calories
Acesulfame K
Tabletop Name:
Heat:
Taste:
Calories:
Acesulfame K
Tabletop Name: Sunett/Sweet One
Heat: Stable
Taste: No aftertaste
Calories: Zero Calories
What two amino acids make up Aspartame?
Aspartic acid and phenylalanine
Who should be concerned with consuming aspartame?
Phenylketonurics
What is sucralose made out of?
A sucrose molecule with three chlorines atoms.
What is neotame made out of?
Aspartic acid and phenylalanine.
Both aspartame and neotame are composed of the same amino acids, what makes them different?
Aspartame is completely broken down into its amino acids; whereas neotame is not broken down and metabolized.
Which of the five focus areas of the dietary guidelines do alternative sweeteners address?
Balance calories to manage weight.
Does sweetness vary from person to person? Why?
Sweetness does vary from person to person. It depends on how much they were exposed to sugar when they were younger. The more sugar their tastebuds were exposed to sweetness, the greater the amount of sugar that is needed in the future to stimulate the same taste.
Variability -> taste genetics, exposure during childhood, being fed or fasted, and addiction to drugs or medication can make you crave sweetness.
What are the advantages of using alternative sweeteners? Disadvantages?
Advantages:
Sweet taste without the calories.
Assist in dental health.
Can improve dietary quality.
Disadvantages:
Excessive amounts can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, or gas.
Who might be more inclined to use alternative sweeteners? Why?
People who are obese; they should control their caloric intake
People who have diabetes; they should control their blood glucose
People who dental problems; by using sweeteners, this can reduce the risk of getting dental caries
Who might not want to use alternative sweeteners? Why?
People who are afraid of synthetic sugars or believe that there is a link to obesity or cancer.
AND
Children and pregnant women.
What are the four functional properties of sugar that nonnutritive sweeteners lack?
Bulking
Solubility
Texture
Fermentation
