Sucralose Fact Sheet
Sucralose Fact Sheet
Sucralose Fact Sheet
Sucralose
Sucralose is the new high quality
intense sweetener from Tate & Lyle
which is suitable for use in a diverse
range of food products from
carbonated beverages to baked
goods. Sucralose is made from
sugar, is approximately 600 times
sweeter than sugar, and has taste
characteristics which are very similar
to sugar. Sucralose is also extremely
stable, and maintains its sweetness
even when exposed to high
temperature food processing such as
pasteurisation, sterilisation, UHT
processing and baking. In addition,
it remains stable in food products
throughout extended periods of
storage, even at low pH. Moreover,
sucralose is non-caloric and does
not promote tooth decay.
Sensory Characteristics
Sweetness Intensity
Sucralose is a high quality sweetener
with a sugar-like taste and a
sweetening power approximately 600
times that of sugar. In common with
other high intensity sweeteners, the
relative sweetness intensity of
sucralose compared to sugar varies
as a function of concentration. The
sweetness factor for sucralose in
water ranges from about 750 to 500
times sweeter than sugar (Figure 1).
Sweetness intensity can also be
influenced by a number of other
factors including pH, temperature
and the presence of food ingredients
such as gelling agents, starches and
fats. Table 1 shows the sweetness
factors determined for sucralose in
various food products.
Sweetness Profile
Time intensity measurements have
demonstrated that the sweetness
profile of sucralose is very similar to
that of sugar (Figure 2). Sucralose
displays a rapid onset of sweetness
and a similar sweetness duration
to sugar.
Flavour Profile
In addition to sweetness, sweeteners
possess a number of side tastes that
give rise to an overall flavour. To
compare the flavour profiles, equisweet
solutions of sucralose and sugar,
equivalent to 9% sugar and prepared
in water of neutral pH, were evaluated
by a 12 member taste panel. The
key taste attributes were assigned a
score rating by each individual
member and then the scores were
averaged. The results shown in
Figure 3 confirm that the flavour
profiles of sucralose and sugar are
very similar.
Furthermore, sucralose has been
shown to maintain its sweetness and
flavour throughout storage, without
the development of off-flavours.
Cola
450
Jam
540
Strawberry Milk
680
Yoghurt
450
Canned Peaches
530
680
intensity rating
sucralose
saccharin
ace-K
aspartame
800
600
sucralose
5% sugar solution
sweetness
peaked
caramelised
saltiness
400
200
bitter
numbing
body/thickness
fruity
10
metallic
1
15
time (seconds)
35
55
75
95
115
135
astringent
sucrose
sucralose
sweet aftertaste*
bitter aftertaste*
0
10
15
20
25
30
35
Stability
Pasteurisation
pH
Process Conditions
Sucralose
Pre-Processing
Sucralose
Post Processing
Tropical Beverage
2.8
0.0125% ( 0.5%)
0.0126% ( 0.5%)
Tomato Ketchup
3.8
0.046% ( 4%)
0.047% ( 1%)
3.3
0.038% ( 10%)
0.038% ( 10%)
5.6
0.0064% ( 12%)
0.0066% ( 10%)
Dairy Dessert
6.7
0.012% ( 3.5%)
0.012% ( 3.6%)
Vanilla Milk
6.5
0.0075% ( 0.6%)
0.0075% ( 1.0%)
Sterilisation
Beans in sauce
UHT
Note: The analyses were conducted by HPLC with a refractive index detector.
The values given in parentheses represent the coefficient of variation for each determination.
Stability
One of the major technical advantages
of sucralose is its stability to high
temperature food processing and
long term storage, even when used in
low pH products. Like sugar, sucralose
will hydrolyse to its component
monosaccharide derivatives under
acidic conditions, but at a much
slower rate.
Studies conducted using model
solutions, comprising 1% sucralose
in aqueous buffer systems, have
confirmed that breakdown of sucralose
is solely by simple hydrolysis and that
no further degradation products are
formed. In terms of taste, breakdown
of sucralose is characterised only by
a loss of sweetness with no associated
development of off-flavours.
Process Stability
The stability of sucralose during food
manufacture has been confirmed by
a series of processing trials, covering
the main processes used in the food
industry. Generally, the trials were
conducted using industrial equipment
and in all cases, analysis of the
samples confirmed that no measurable
loss of sucralose had occurred during
processing (Table 2).
A detailed programme of work was
also undertaken to assess the stability
of sucralose in baked products.(1)
Three different products were chosen
to reflect the diverse baking conditions
used in industrial production, and
again, analysis of the products
demonstrated that no measurable
loss of sucralose had occurred during
the preparation of:
Sponge cake cooked at 180C
for 25 minutes
Cookies baked at 210C
for 8 minutes
Crackers baked at 230C
for 4 minutes
20C - 1 year
30C - 1 year
50C - 4 weeks
pH
2.5
% Sucralose
Retention
99%
Sucralose
pH 3 Formulation
Sucralose
pH 2.7 Formulation
> 99.5%
Zero time
98%
5 weeks
100%
10 weeks
100%
17 weeks
93%
25 weeks
100%
99%
Note: The analyses were conducted by HPLC with a refractive index detector.
The values given in parentheses represent the coefficient of variation for each determination.
% retained
100
80
60
40
0
12
24
36
52
All information contained in this publication has been carefully compiled but no guarantee can be given of its
applicability in any given situation because of the wide variation in conditions of use. Nothing in this information
should be construed as a recommendation to use sucralose in violation of any patent or as a warranty of
non-infringement of any patent rights. The approval status of sucralose should always be confirmed with the
appropriate governmental agencies for its intended use.