Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle), a leading global food and beverage ingredients provider and allulose pioneer with its DOLCIA PRIMA® Allulose (a low-calorie rare sugar), is pleased to announce that the FDA has published draft guidance allowing the exemption of allulose from the ‘Sugars’ and ‘Added Sugars’ line of the Nutrition Facts Panel in the US. This guidance is the result of a comprehensive nutrition-based review by the FDA in response to Tate & Lyle’s citizen’s petition. Previously, allulose was required to be included in the ‘Sugars’ and ‘Added Sugars’ lines of the Nutrition Facts Panel, even though it is virtually calorie free. From now on it will continue to be included in the carbohydrate line of the Nutrition Fact Panel (with the negligible caloric impact on % daily value), and label simply as Allulose in the ingredients list.
The FDA’s decision will clear the way for food and beverage manufacturers in the US to reap the full reward for products incorporating allulose. That is the ability to deliver both calorie and sugar reduction in consumer end products where the ingredient is used. This also ensures greater consumer understanding of the true benefits that allulose can bring – without confusing those consumers who pay close attention to ingredient lists and nutritional labels. Research shows that listing an ingredient as a ‘Sugar’ and an ‘Added Sugar’, but having it contribute virtually no calories, is confusing for consumers.
Abigail Storms, Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing at Tate & Lyle said, ‘Our regulatory, legal, nutrition and marketing teams have worked with the FDA to show the potential health benefit that Allulose could have for US consumers, if labeled in a clear and appropriate way. It’s very rewarding to receive this decision and unlock the great potential that Allulose has to reduce calories in a significant way while delivering great taste and functionality.’
Abigail Storms added, ‘Leading the commercialization of Allulose back in 2015 with DOLCIA PRIMA® Allulose gave us the opportunity to be the first to work with food and beverage manufacturers on their calorie reduction challenges using this ingredient. We’ve seen incredible solutions, but the labeling was a challenging hurdle until now. I am excited at the impact we can now make together with our customers on the reduction in sugar consumption in brands across categories in the US. This is a breakthrough in our ability to offer consumer and customer relevant solutions in the face of today’s obesity and diabetes health crises.’
Allulose is a low calorie, sweetening ingredient with the same clean, sweet taste you expect from sugar (sucrose). It is one of many different rare sugars that exist in nature in very small quantities. Originally identified in wheat, it has since been found in certain fruits including figs and raisins. Tate & Lyle looks forward to significantly broadening the use of DOLCIA PRIMA® Allulose with our customers, providing our nutrition, clinical, consumer knowledge and formulation expertise around this breakthrough ingredient.
ENDS
Media contact:
Anna Taylor
Corporate PR Manager
+44(0)2072572209
mediarelations@tateandlyle.com
