Ingredients > Sweeteners

Sweeteners

SUGARS
HFCS VS. SUGARS
LOW CALORIE SWEETENERS

What are "sugars"?: The word sugars refers to a wide range of ingredients that may occur naturally or be added to foods or beverages. Examples include the sugars found naturally in juices, vegetables, milks and grains and sugars like table sugar, honey, molasses, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup that may be added for sweetness, texture or other functional properties.
What is the difference between added and naturally occurring sugars?: Whether naturally occurring or added, sugar is a type of carbohydrate that your body uses for energy. Naturally occurring and added sugars are chemically identical. Neither your body nor any chemical detection method can distinguish between the two.
Is sugar bad for you?: If consumed in excess, sugars can contribute too many calories to your diet and make it more difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs.
How much sugar can I eat?: The total number of calories you should consume varies person to person based on a variety of factors including age, gender and activity level. Everyone can include some sugar in their diet as long as they balance their calorie intake with the calories they burn and eat an overall healthful diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy products.

What is high fructose corn syrup?: High fructose corn syrups (HFCS) are sweeteners made from corn. They sweeten many beverages and foods the same way sugar does.
What is the difference between sugar and HFCS?: Sugar comes from either sugar cane or sugar beets while high fructose corn syrups come from corn. Table sugar and the HFCS used in soft drinks have the same calories and sweetness and research shows that our bodies cannot differentiate one from the other. Both table sugar and HFCS are made up of the two simple sugars, fructose and glucose. The difference between the two sweeteners is in the amount of these two simple sugars they contain. Specifically, table sugar is made of 50% fructose and 50% glucose while the most common type of HFCS is made of 55% fructose and 45% glucose.
Should I be concerned about HFCS?: Just like table sugar, HFCS contains calories (16 calories per teaspoon) and, like all caloric substances, must be considered in weight management choices.
How are HFCS and table sugar made?: Commercially produced HFCS and table sugar are both processed foods requiring specialized manufacturing techniques to extract the sugars from their raw materials: sugar cane, sugar beets or corn.
Why are some beverages made with HFCS and some with sugar?: HFCS and table sugar have the same calories and sweetness so the decision to use one or the other is based on a variety of other factors. For example, HFCS is an easier ingredient to work with because it is a liquid. It also costs less than table sugar which helps us keep the cost of our products down for consumers. However, since some consumers prefer beverages sweetened with table sugar, we give people choices in the different products we make.
I've heard that diets high in fructose may have health risks. Is HFCS high in fructose and does it have these risks?: Some studies have found that consumption of unusually high amounts of pure fructose may trigger health concerns. However, these concerns do not apply to HFCS. Despite its name, HFCS is not high in fructose*. HFCS and table sugar contain about the same amount of fructose and neither has been shown to be harmful.

* "High fructose corn syrup" was given its name because it has more fructose than corn syrup made from corn starch, which contains virtually no fructose, only glucose.
Does HFCS cause obesity or Type 2 diabetes?: There is no scientific evidence that HFCS causes obesity or Type 2 diabetes. Various studies have shown an association between HFCS and obesity but not a cause and effect relationship. An association simply means that people who are obese are more likely to consume higher amounts of HFCS. It is likely that these same people consume higher amounts of many other ingredients, foods and beverages as well.

In many countries that have experienced the same or higher increases in obesity rates as the U.S., HFCS is not used in foods and beverages. And, a recent study in Australia reported an inverse relationship between obesity and use of sweeteners like sugar and HFCS. Specifically, while sugar consumption has declined by 23% in Australia, the prevalence of obesity is rising.¹

1. Barclay AW and Brand-Miller J. (2011) The Australian Paradox: A Substantial Decline in Sugars Intake over the Same Timeframe that Overweight and Obesity Have Increased. Nutrients 3, 491-504

What are the different types of low-calorie sweeteners used in your beverages?

Many different low-calorie sweeteners are used in making beverages. Each has unique attributes that make them better suited to certain beverages than others. Click here for a summary of the low-calorie sweeteners used most commonly today.

Are low-calorie sweeteners safe?

All of the sweeteners used in our products have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and have been evaluated and approved by numerous independent scientific commissions and regulatory agencies around the world. In addition, the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetic Association say that low-calorie sweeteners are safe and can be a valuable tool for weight management. Also, the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have determined that low-calorie sweeteners are safe and do not increase the risk for cancer.

Do diet beverages cause weight gain?

You may have heard that diet drinks can "make you gain weight" but when you look closely at this idea, it just doesn't hold up. While some studies have shown an association between consumption of diet beverages and overweight, none have shown a cause and effect relationship. The authors of these studies, and other experts in the field, are quick to point out that an association does not mean that diet drinks cause weight gain. It simply means that people who are overweight are more likely to consume diet beverages.

Can diet drinks help you lose weight - and keep it off?

Since a can of diet soda has around 150 calories less than a can of sugared soda, drinking diet beverages can be a useful way to reduce calorie intake. And, scientific studies support this idea. One study of overweight and obese individuals found that people who consumed more low calorie sweeteners lost more weight.¹ Many other studies also demonstrate that when people replace full calorie beverages with low calorie versions, they lose weight. And finally, a study of successful weight losers (people who lost over 60 pounds and kept it off for over 11 years) found that they drank three times the amount of diet beverages than those who never had a weight problem.²

1. Sucrose compared with artificial sweeteners: different effects on ad libitum food intake and body weight after 10 wk of supplementation in overweight subjects. Raben A, Vasilaras TH, Møller AC, Astrup A. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Oct;76(4):721-9.

2. Phelan S, Lang W, Jordan D, Wing RR. Use of artificial sweeteners and fat-modified foods in weight loss maintainers and always-normal weight individuals. International Journal of Obesity. 2009 Oct;33(10):1183-90.

Do diet drinks make you like sweets more?

People do not learn to like sweets by consuming diet drinks or low calorie sweeteners. Humans are born liking sweet tastes. Studies show that even newborn infants love sweet tastes. This preference for sweets is a hardwired survival trait to ensure that our bodies receive the glucose needed to fuel our brain cells.

Are beverages made with low-calorie sweeteners sweeter?

No. We formulate our diet and low-calorie beverages to have a similar sweetness to our drinks sweetened with HFCS, table sugar or other caloric sweeteners.

Acesulfame Potassium: Acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame-K or ace-K) has been used in Europe since 1983 and in the U.S. since 1988. It can now be found in foods and beverages in countries around the world. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reaffirmed the sweetener's safety on nine separate occasions since its first approval. The Scientific Committee for Food of the European Union and the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the scientific advisory body to the World Health Organization, have both determined that ace-K is safe for use in foods and beverages.
Aspartame: People have safely consumed products containing aspartame for over thirty years. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the World Health Organization, and regulatory agencies in more than 100 countries have reviewed aspartame and found it safe for use. The American Medical Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the American Diabetes Association recognize aspartame as safe.

The sweetener has been tested continuously since its introduction and its safety has been consistently re-affirmed. A study conducted by government researchers at the National Cancer Institute involved over 500,000 people, including those who drank the equivalent of three or more diet soft drinks every day for almost a decade. It found that there was no increased risk of any type of cancer even among those who consumed the most aspartame. In fact, since aspartame was first introduced, no scientific evidence has been found linking it to any disease in humans.
Sucralose (Brand Name: Splenda®): Sucralose was approved for use in foods and beverages by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999. Before approving the sweetener, FDA evaluated more than 100 human safety studies conducted over a 20-year period. Endorsements from other agencies, which independently reviewed the data, include The Health Protection Branch of Health and Welfare Canada, The National Food Authority of Australia and The American Council on Science and Health. Sucralose has been found to be safe by the World Health Organization and is approved for use in foods and beverages in more than 40 countries.
Reb A (Brand Name: PureVia): Rebaudioside A (Reb A) is a natural, low-calorie sweetener purified from the leaves of the stevia plant. Reb-A has a long history of use in many countries including Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico and Russia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Reb-A for use as a general purpose sweetener in foods and beverages in 2008.
Erythritol: Erythritol is a type of sweetener called a polyol. Polyols occur naturally in some foods and come from plant products such as fruits and berries. They have been used to sweeten foods around the world for many years. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies worldwide have reviewed the use of polyols as a sweetener and have approved them as safe.

Sweeteners Used in Zero Calorie and Low Calorie Beverages

American Dietetic Association
Aspartame Information Center
Calorie Control Council
The International Food Information Council (IFIC)

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Product	Aspartame	Sucralose	Acesulfame Potassium	Reb A	Erythritol

AMP Energy
AMP Energy Active Lemonade
AMP Energy Active Lemonade Sugar Free
AMP Energy Boost Cherry
AMP Energy Boost Grape
AMP Energy Boost Original Sugar Free
AMP Energy Focus Mixed Berry
Aquafina FlavorSplash
Aquafina FlavorSplash - Grape
Aquafina FlavorSplash - Lemon
Aquafina FlavorSplash - Peach Mango
Aquafina FlavorSplash - Raspberry
Aquafina FlavorSplash - Strawberry Kiwi
Aquafina FlavorSplash - Wild Berry
G2
G2 - Blueberry Pomegranate
G2 - Fruit Punch
G2 - Glacier Freeze
G2 - Grape
G2 - Lemon-Lime
G2 - Orange
G2 - Raspberry Lemonade
G2 - Raspberry Melon
G2 - Tropical Blend
G2 Natural - Berry
G2 Natural - Citrus Mango
G2 Natural - Orange Pomegranate
Gatorade Protein Recover
Gatorade Protein Recover - Tropical Orange
Lipton Brisk
Lipton Brisk Lemonade
Lipton Brisk Diet Lemon Iced Tea
Lipton Brisk Diet Lemonade
Lipton Brisk Fruit Punch
Lipton Brisk Honey Ginseng Iced Green Tea
Lipton Brisk Iced Tea and Lemonade
Lipton Brisk Lemon Iced Tea
Lipton Brisk Mango Iced Tea
Lipton Brisk Peach Iced Green Tea
Lipton Brisk Pink Lemonade
Lipton Brisk Raspberry Iced Tea
Lipton Brisk Strawberry Melon
Lipton Brisk Sugar Free Orangeade
Lipton Brisk Sweet Iced Tea
Lipton Brisk White Tea and Pink Lemonade
Lipton Iced Tea
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea - Green Tea with Citrus
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea - Green Tea with Passionfruit Mango
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea - Iced Tea with Honey Peach
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea - Iced Tea with Lemon
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea - Iced Tea with Pomegranate Blueberry
100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea - Iced Tea with Strawberry Dragonfruit
Lipton Diet Green Tea Honey Ginseng
Lipton Diet Green Tea with Citrus
Lipton Diet Green Tea with Mixed Berry
Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Lemon
Lipton Diet White Tea with Raspberry
Lipton Green Tea with Citrus
Lipton Half and Half Iced Tea and Lemonade
Lipton Iced Tea - Diet Green Tea with Watermelon
Lipton Iced Tea - New Diet Green Tea with Citrus
Lipton Iced Tea Berry Acai
Lipton Iced Tea with Lemon
Lipton White Tea with Raspberry
Lipton Sparkling
Lipton Sparkling - Diet Strawberry Kiwi
Mtn Dew
Caffeine Free Diet Mtn Dew
Diet Mtn Dew
Diet Mtn Dew Code Red
Mtn Dew Kickstart
Mtn Dew Kickstart - Fruit Punch
Mtn Dew Kickstart - Orange Citrus
Mug
Diet Mug Cream Soda
Diet Mug Root Beer
Pepsi
Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi
Diet Pepsi
Diet Pepsi Lime
Diet Pepsi Vanilla
Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry
Pepsi MAX
Pepsi NEXT
Pepsi One
Propel Zero
Propel Zero - Berry
Propel Zero - Black Cherry
Propel Zero - Blueberry Pomegranate
Propel Zero - Cranberry Lime
Propel Zero - Grape
Propel Zero - Kiwi Strawberry
Propel Zero - Lemon
Propel Zero - Mandarin Orange
Propel Zero - Peach
Propel Zero Sport
Propel Zero Sport - Berry
Propel Zero Sport - Grape
Propel Zero Sport - Kiwi Strawberry
Propel Zero Sport - Orange
Pure Leaf Iced Tea
Pure Leaf Iced Tea - Diet Lemon
Pure Leaf Iced Tea - Diet Peach
Pure Leaf Iced Tea - Not Too Sweet Honey Green Tea
Sierra Mist
Diet Sierra Mist
Diet Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash
Diet Sierra Mist Strawberry Kiwi Splash
SoBe Lifewater
SoBe Lifewater Agave Lemonade - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater B-Energy Black Cherry Dragonfruit
SoBe Lifewater B-Energy Strawberry Apricot
SoBe Lifewater Blackberry Grape - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater Orange Tangerine - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater Pomegranate Cherry - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater Strawberry Kiwi - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater with Coconut Water - Mango Mandarin
SoBe Lifewater with Coconut Water - Pacific Coconut
SoBe Lifewater with Coconut Water - Pomegranate Nectarine
SoBe Lifewater 0 Calorie
SoBe Lifewater Acai Raspberry - 0 Cal - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater Black and Blue Berry - 0 Cal - Antioxidants
SoBe Lifewater Blood Orange Mango - 0 Cal - Electrolytes
SoBe Lifewater Fuji Apple Pear - 0 Cal - Lean Machine
SoBe Lifewater Kiwi Cherimoya - 0 Cal - Lean Machine
SoBe Lifewater Strawberry Dragonfruit - 0 Cal - Lean Machine
SoBe Lifewater Yumberry Pomegranate - 0 Cal - Antioxidants
SoBe Teas & Elixirs
SoBe Energize Citrus Energy
SoBe Energize Green Tea
SoBe Lean Fuji Apple Cranberry
SoBe Lean Honey Green Tea
SoBe Lean Raspberry Lemonade
SoBe Smooth Pina Colada
SoBe Smooth Strawberry Banana
SoBe Smooth Strawberry Daiquiri
Starbucks Doubleshot
Starbucks Doubleshot - Light Coffee Drink
Starbucks Doubleshot Energy - Coffee
Starbucks Doubleshot Energy - Mocha
Starbucks Doubleshot Energy - Vanilla
Starbucks Doubleshot Energy - Vanilla Light
Starbucks Doubleshot Energy - White Chocolate
Starbucks Frappuccino
Starbucks Frappuccino - Vanilla Light
Starbucks Refreshers
Starbucks Refreshers - Orange Melon
Starbucks Refreshers - Raspberry Pomegranate
Starbucks Refreshers - Strawberry Lemonade
Trop50
Trop50 - Farmstand Apple
Trop50 - Lemonade
Trop50 - Orange - No Pulp
Trop50 - Orange - No Pulp With Calcium & Vitamin D
Trop50 - Orange - Some Pulp
Trop50 - Peach with White Tea
Trop50 - Pear Lychee with White Tea
Trop50 - Pineapple Mango
Trop50 - Pomegranate Blueberry
Trop50 - Raspberry Lemonade
Trop50 - Raspberry with Green Tea
Trop50 - Red Orange
Tropicana Chilled
Tropicana Light - Fruit Punch
Tropicana Light - Lemonade
Tropicana Twister
Tropicana Twister Soda - Diet Orange