Xylooligosaccharide Erythritol: "0" Calorie Sweetener

Xylooligosaccharide manufacturers tell you that erythritol is an ideal low-calorie sweetener that has recently emerged abroad, especially in Japan. The xylooligosaccharide has the characteristics of low calorific value, good crystallinity, good taste, non-cariogenic, and safe for diabetic patients. It can be widely used in various foods.

Japan not only took the lead in establishing the industrialized technology for the production of erythritol by fermentation, but also developed the product's application in many fields from food processing, including candy, beverages, powdered erythritol sweetener, etc., and even drug coatings. The first to develop this product were Japan's Nikken Chem. and Mitsubishi Chem. The product was first put on the market in 1991, and the sales volume that year was 1,000 tons. Japan Nikken Chem.'s sales of erythritol in 1995 were 1.29 billion yen, and in 1996 it was 3.49 billion yen. In 1997, the product was in short supply, and its output doubled to 12,000 tons until March 1998. The production capacity will be expanded to 20,000 tons.

Due to the rapid increase in consumption of low-calorie foods in recent years, erythritol is also showing a rapid growth trend in markets outside of Japan. Therefore, Mitsubishi Chem. of Japan and Cargill of the United States invested 50 million US dollars to establish a joint venture company in the United States. It will reach 20,000 tons and is expected to be put into production in April 1999. The FDA has accepted and approved the GRAS application for erythritol. In addition, Mitsubishi Chem. and Crestar of Belgium are also introducing their erythritol products to China and other Asian countries.

At present, the consumption of erythritol in the world is showing a rapid growth trend. It is predicted that the world market demand will exceed 100,000 tons in the early 21st century.

1. Overview of Erythritol

Erythritol is a natural substance widely distributed in the plant kingdom, such as lichens, fungi and fruits; it also contains 100-1000mg/l in fermented foods, such as wine, beer, sake, and soy sauce.

Because natural foods more or less contain erythritol, tissues and body fluids of humans or animals. For example, a small amount of erythritol can also be detected in blood, semen, and urine. Erythritol is the main sugar alcohol compound in human urine, which is caused by its unique metabolic properties.

Erythritol has the characteristics of good crystallinity, refreshing in the mouth, etc., and at the same time has low calorific value, high tolerance and other functional properties, as well as anti-caries, suitable for diabetic patients and other health care properties.

Erythritol production method can be divided into chemical synthesis method and fermentation method. The former is the DL-tartaric acid reduction method and the hydrocracking dialdehyde starch method. The latter uses starch raw materials to obtain glucose through enzymatic hydrolysis, which is then fermented by hypertonic yeast.