Labelling requirements for sweeteners and foods that contain sweeteners
Definitions
Cyclamate sweetener
"Cyclamate sweetener" means a cyclohexyl sulfamic acid, a salt thereof, any substance containing cyclohexyl sulfamic acid or salt thereof that is sold as a sweetener [E.01.001(1), FDR].
Non-nutritive sweeteners
"Non-nutritive sweeteners" also called high intensity sweeteners, do not provide calories or influence blood sugar levels. As these compounds are significantly sweeter than table sugar, their energy contribution is negligible. Examples of non-nutritive sweeteners include: cyclamate, saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, neotame and stevia.
Sugar alcohols
"Sugar alcohols" (also known as polyols) are food additives that are used as sweeteners and texturizing/bulking agents in foods. Examples of sugar alcohols include isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, maltitol syrup, mannitol, sorbitol, sorbitol syrup, xylitol, erythritol and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates.
Sweetener
"Sweetener" means a food additive that is used to impart a sweet taste to food [B.01.001(1), FDR]. Examples of food additives that may be used as sweeteners include aspartame, maltitol and sorbitol. For a complete list, refer to Health Canada's List of permitted sweeteners.
Sweetening agent
"Sweetening agent" includes any food for which a standard is provided in Division 18, FDR but does not include those food additives included in Health Canada's List of permitted sweeteners [B.01.001(1), FDR]. Examples of sweetening agents include white and brown table sugar, molasses and honey.
Table-top sweetener
Table-top sweeteners are considered to be high intensity sweeteners that can be manufactured in liquid, powder, or granular formats and are intended for addition to foods ad libitum by the end consumer at their own discretion (for example, to impart a sweet taste to coffee or tea intended for personal consumption) and are not meant to be used as an ingredient.
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