Notes and quotes: Sugar substitutes

I came across an article about a new sugar substitute, brazzein, but the entire article was behind a pay wall, so I did some AI assisted research about the ingredient.

• Brazzein is a natural, sweet-tasting protein derived from the fruit of Pentadiplandra brazzeana, a climbing plant native to West Africa. It’s many times sweeter than sucrose, making it a potent sweetener. Here’s why it could be an attractive alternative to traditional sugar and artificial sweeteners:
  • Sweetness without adding calories.
  • Versatile for various food applications.
  • Doesn’t affect blood sugar levels or insulin response.
  • Derived from a plant source and is not a synthetic.
  • Tastes more like sucrose than other natural sweeteners.
  • Can help reduce aftertaste and enhance overall flavor.
• Certainly  long-term studies on its effects are still needed, and, here’s the disclaimer – consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating new sweeteners into your diet.

Based on the available search results, there are currently very few products on the market that use brazzein.

• The only specific product mentioned is a brazzein-sweetened chocolate bar launched by Oobli (formerly Joywell Foods) in December 2022.
• Although it’s status is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status , its availability is still limited. Companies are working on scaling up production and developing products:
  • Sweegen has received GRAS status for its Ultratia line of brazzein sweeteners and is collaborating with food and beverage companies on reformulations and new product developments.
  • Sweegen has launched Sweetensify Flavors, which includes brazzein as one of its components.
• Widespread use of brazzein in consumer products is still in the early stages, but we’ll eventually see it in foods like confectioneries, cereals, cookies, candies, ice cream, beverages, etc.

People seem to like the taste because it’s very similar to sucrose.

Takeaways for improving diet:

• Can reduce your overall sugar intake without sacrificing sweetness.
• Can be a safer alternative to sugar for diabetics.
• Can help reduce overall calorie intake.
• Can be used in different foods and beverages.
• It’s a natural alternative because it’s derived from fruit.
• May have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties.
• Suitable for low-carbohydrate diets.

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