Definition Of Crystalline Fructose

Crystalline fructose is an artificial calorie sweetener made from cornstarch. The sweetener contains approximately 98 percent pure fructose. The remaining 2 percent of crystalline fructose consists of water and trace minerals. Manufacturers use crystalline fructose in drinks and yogurts as a substitute for high-fructose corn syrup and table sugar. It's 20 percent sweeter than table sugar and 5 percent sweeter than HFCS.

Production of Crystalline Fructose

Manufacturers typically produce crystalline fructose from cornstarch. However, it is also possible to produce this sweetener from other starches such as rice and wheat. The process of making corn syrup involves grinding corn into cornstarch and then processing the cornstarch into corn syrup. Since corn syrup is almost entirely glucose, corn syrup has to react with some enzymes before it can become fructose. Fructose crystallizes out, and then manufacturers dry and mill the fructose. Crystallization is a purification process that reduces impurities to levels below those of common high-fructose syrups.

Facts

Crystalline fructose and HFCS are not the same thing. Crystalline fructose is very close to being 100 percent fructose. The sugars in HFCS consist of 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose. Crystalline fructose gives products better texture, taste and stability than HFCS. Additionally, when combined with other sweeteners crystalline fructose enhances sweetness, produces a brown surface color in baked goods and a pleasant aroma. The Food and Drug Administration considers crystalline fructose as safe as table sugar, corn syrup and invert sugar.

Uses

Since crystalline fructose is sweeter than both sugar and HFCS, the sweetener adds fewer calories to food because generally use less. The difference in calories is not huge but can help reduce your total caloric intake. You can find crystalline fructose in many manufactured food products such as beverages, baked goods, frozen foods, cereal, dairy products, reduced-calorie foods, canned fruits, toppings and sauces, jams and jellies, caramels and gum, enhanced or flavored water and sports and energy drinks.

Crystalline Fructose as Part of the Daily Diet

Crystalline fructose has a low glycemic index, meaning it's a food that supports stable blood glucose levels. Diabetic patients need to maintain stable blood glucose levels at all times. Additionally, crystalline fructose can help avoid spikes in insulin levels in both diabetics and nondiabetics. And because crystalline fructose is more stable than other sweeteners, it minimizes the possibility of food dehydration and can help prevent foods from becoming hard.