Cargill, Inc.

Oct. 3, 2005
All-natural Sweetener Combines Sweetness and Slow Digestibility
Cargill has introduced Xtend sucromalt, an all-natural, fully digestible, slow-release carbohydrate that delivers the full energy of sugar but is digested more slowly in the body. The announcement was made Sept. 12 at the 2005 American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla."Xtend sucromalt offers our customers the highly desirable benefits of slow digestibility, including sustained energy release and lower glycemic response," said Anne Mollerus, new products project manager, Cargill. "The slow and complete digestibility of Xtend sucromalt makes it unique among other sweeteners. In food and beverages, Xtend sucromalt releases its carbohydrates into the bloodstream slowly, resulting in a muted blood sugar response and a 'slow energy' release versus the 'fast energy' release and higher glycemic response of sugar."Xtend sucromalt provides body and clean taste. It is a syrup derived from sucrose and maltose; as such, its physical properties in food processing are similar to glucose syrup. It provides a satisfying sweet taste, as it is 60 to 70 percent as sweet as sugar. Xtend sucromalt is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) with no daily intake limit. Xtend also allows food manufacturers to reduce the level of simple sugars on a nutrition label. "Xtend sucromalt is an excellent choice in the development of lower-sugar foods or beverages since only 50 percent of the sweetener's carbohydrates are claimed as simple sugars on the nutritional panel," said Mollerus.In addition, the use of Xtend sucromalt offers food and beverage manufacturers the opportunity to minimize the number of ingredients on their labels, as Xtend sucromalt can replace multiple sweeteners and bulking agents in many formulations. Mollerus noted, "Your ingredient label will speak to those consumers who seek to moderate sugar intake without compromising taste."Commercial quantities of Xtend sucromalt will be available Summer 2006. Sample and project quantities are available now.