Aspekty prawne związane ze stosowaniem substancji słodzących, w tym polioli

Abstract

Sweet taste is one of five basic ones: sour, bitter, salty, and umami. It accompanies us from the first days of life because lactose is present in mother's milk. However, excessive carbohydrate consumption has adverse effects on health. This prompts consumers to choose sweeteners and the products in which they are contained. This paper presents sweeteners, with particular emphasis on polyols, in the light of current knowledge and legal aspects. It discusses conditions of use, allocation, safety issues of consumption, sweetening intensity, labeling of products to which they are added, and the sugar tax introduced from January 2021. The natural content of polyols in food and their effects on health were also mentioned. These substances are well studied and safe. They have a prebiotic effect, do not cause caries; their energy value, insulin index, and glycemic index are lower than sucrose. Thus, it is worth including them in a diet.(original abstract)