NEW CITRUS SWEETENER

In the 1960s, chemists discovered a new substance that is 3,000 times sweeter than sugar. It was approved as a sweetener in the 1990s by the EU. But it has not received the greatest appreciation as a sweetener, but as a flavor enhancer.

How is neohesperidin DC made?

Neohesperidin DC does not occur naturally. It is produced chemically from neohesperidin (without the DC at the end) extracted from bitter orange or created by chemically converting naringin, which is found in grapefruit.

Uses

So neohesperidin DC is good at masking bitterness, especially in citrus fruits. It was for this specific application that the substance was first manufactured. Today, it is also used to mask bitterness in medicines and animal feed.

It is also sweet - up to 3,000 times sweeter than regular sugar. But how sweet it is perceived depends on the amount. In practical use, it is “only” 400–600 times sweeter than sugar.

It also makes other sweeteners taste even sweeter. Neohesperidin DC has a synergistic effect with saccharin, aspartame, cyclamates, sucralose, acesulfame K and sugar alcohols. This means that less of these sweeteners is needed to achieve the same sweetness.

Neohesperidin DC enhances not only sweetness, but also other flavors and taste sensations. For example, it can be added to dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream to enhance the “creamy” feeling in the mouth.

Neohesperidin DC can be used in a wide range of food products such as soft drinks, desserts, ice cream, confectionery, certain baked goods, fruit and vegetable products, high-fiber breakfast cereals, jams, marmalades, jellies, some soups, vitamin and mineral supplements. , sauces, certain snacks, alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages.

Other properties

In addition to masking bitterness, sweet taste, enhancing flavor and improving mouthfeel, neohesperidin DC has some other interesting properties.

• It is heat-stable
• It has a long shelf life
• It is stable in both acidic and alkaline environments

All beneficial properties. However, compared to regular sugar, it has some properties that can be positive or negative depending on the application:

• It takes time before you feel the sweetness in your mouth
• The sensation of sweetness lasts longer
• It has a menthol aftertaste

And of course, neohesperidin DC does not provide energy (0 kcal), does not affect blood sugar levels (GI = 0) and does not cause cavities.

Is there anything negative to say? There is. Food workers have reported nausea and migraines after high exposure to neohesperidin DC. Therefore, face masks are necessary when working with neohesperidin DC.

What happens to neohesperidin DC in the body?

Neohesperidin DC is structurally similar to flavonoids, antioxidants that, among other things, give fruits, berries, and vegetables their color. Therefore, neohesperidin DC follows the same path in the body as flavonoids.

Most of it passes through the digestive system unchanged until it reaches the large intestine. There, it becomes a prebiotic for your probiotics, in other words, yum-yum for the bacteria in your colon. Only a small part of neohesperidin DC is absorbed by the body.

Most of it is broken down into harmless substances in this way. What is excreted decomposes in the soil in the same way as flavonoids.

Is Neohesperidin DC safe?

Numerous studies have been conducted on Neohesperidin DC. They have shown that the substance is not toxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic.

However, as always, there is a limit to the acceptable daily intake (ADI). It is 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight.

To reach the ADI, you need to consume quite a lot of junk food. You would need about 2 kilograms of sweets with 150 milligrams of Neohesperidin DC per kilogram, or 10 liters of soft drinks with 350 milligrams per liter.

Advantages of Neohesperidin DC

• It is 3000 times sweeter than regular sugar
• It enhances the sweetness of other sweeteners
• It enhances the taste
• Can improve the mouthfeel (e.g., contribute to the "creaminess" of dairy products)
• It masks bitter tastes well
• It is naturally metabolized in the body by intestinal flora
• It tolerates heat well
• It has a very long shelf life
• It is stable in both acidic and alkaline environments
• It does not provide energy (0 kcal)
• It does not affect blood sugar levels (GI = 0)
• It does not cause cavities

Disadvantages of Neohesperidin DC

• It has a delay before we feel its sweetness in the mouth
• It has a longer aftertaste than sugar
• It has a menthol aftertaste if not combined with other sweeteners
• High exposure in food workers can lead to nausea and migraines