Is the sweetener sorbitol in Kera vegetable candy harmful to health?

According to medical experts, the abuse of sorbitol can cause health consequences, so the food industry does not encourage it.

Is sorbitol sweetener harmful to health?

According to the test results of the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene Control on Kera candy products related to Hang Du Muc and Quang Linh Vlogs, it was discovered that the product contains sorbitol, a sweetener, with a content of 33.4/100g but is not listed on the product label as prescribed.

Kera vegetable candy contains the sweetener sorbitol but this is not stated on the label.

The question is, does this sweetener in Kera candy products affect the health of users?

Regarding this issue, Dr. Nguyen Hong Vu (City of Hope National Cancer Research Institute, USA) said: Sorbitol is a type of carbohydrate (a substance containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms). Because it contains the OH- group (hydroxyl group) in the molecule, sorbitol belongs to the group of "sugar alcohols", also known as polyols. Although it tastes sweet, unlike normal sugar (such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, etc.), sorbitol is not easily broken down by enzymes in the body, so we rarely absorb this type of sugar. Thanks to this characteristic, in addition to its sweetening effect, it also has the effect of "treating constipation".

According to previous studies, in adults, consuming relatively small amounts (5-20 g) per day can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as flatulence, bloating and abdominal pain. Higher doses (20-50 g) can cause diarrhea. Because of this characteristic, it is used as a “main ingredient” in some “laxative” drugs.

The use of sorbitol must be cautioned.

According to Mr. Vu, because of the risk of consuming too much sorbitol, most food management agencies in countries have regulations on product labeling. Specifically, the US FDA requires food products containing sorbitol to be clearly stated on the product label and must have a warning line that "excess consumption may have a laxative effect".

The EU requires that foods containing sorbitol must be labeled with information about the amount of sorbitol and carry a warning similar to the FDA if the product contains more than 10g of sorbitol per 100g of product.

Therefore, with the amount of sorbitol being 33.4g/100g in KERA vegetable candy product, or about 1g of sorbitol in each candy (3.2g), consuming about 20 candies a day can cause discomfort for some people who are sensitive to sorbitol.

However, using sorbitol to combat constipation should only be a “temporary” solution because if you use sorbitol or any laxative too often, your body can become dependent on it to maintain normal bowel function. This can lead to chronic constipation or a decrease in the natural ability of your bowels to pass waste. In addition, its side effects can cause problems with dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, bowel damage, and decreased bowel movements.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, a food technology expert, said: Sorbitol is a sweetener that is allowed to be used in food at a permitted dosage according to Vietnamese standards. However, overusing sorbitol can cause health problems.

Because sorbitol is a sweetener, 1 gram contains about 2.6 calories. Eating a lot of foods containing sorbitol is no different than eating a lot of sugar. Eating a lot of sorbitol can cause excess energy, increasing the risk of being overweight and obese. For people with diabetes, eating foods containing sorbitol will increase blood sugar...

Currently, the food manufacturing industry discourages the use of artificial sweeteners in foods.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/chat-tao-ngot-sorbitol-trong-keo-rau-cu-kera-co-gay-hai-cho-suc-khoe-192250321073911847.htm