Americans undeniably have a sweet tooth. Sugar is a $10 billion industry in the United States, according to the American Sugar Alliance. The most common sugar-based sweetener added to processed foods, is high-fructose corn syrup. But as consumers seek healthier products, crystalline fructose is also finding a place in the American diet.
Definition
Crystalline fructose is a food sweetener. To make it, manufacturers start with corn, which is not only high in fructose, but also plentiful and inexpensive in the U.S., according to the "Los Angeles Times." The Federal government's labeling standards define crystalline fructose as being at least 98 percent fructose. The remaining portion consists of minerals and water.
Comparison
Production of crystalline fructose requires several more processing steps than does the more popular high-fructose corn syrup. That makes its fructose content far higher. High-fructose corn syrup is only 55 percent fructose; the other portion is glucose. Crystalline fructose is as much as 20 percent sweeter than sucrose, also known as table sugar, and 5 percent sweeter than high-fructose corn syrup.
Benefits
For consumers, crystalline fructose can offer calorie savings. A beverage containing the nearly pure fructose instead of high-fructose corn syrup would have 5 percent fewer calories, Ihab Bishay, a Chicago-based food science consultant, told the "Los Angeles Times." Of interest to people with diabetes, it also has a low glycemic index, so it does not cause large fluctuations in blood sugar levels, according to the Calorie Control Council. And crystalline fructose's relative sweetness means food companies can create a sweet product without adding as much volume.
Usage
Crystalline fructose makes its way into certain drinks marketed as health-friendly. But its functional properties also make it useful in a variety of other products, as well. For example, unlike some other sweeteners, including sucrose, it does not hydrolize in acidic conditions, reports the Calorie Control Council. That makes its flavor stable over extended shelf-storage times. Some product in which crystalline sugar appears are flavored water, sports drinks, chocolate milk, baked goods, fruit packs and yogurt.
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