I WILL STILL choose sugar-free alternatives. They cater to my requirement of sugar substitutes in foods," says 29-year-old Sumati Sharma, reacting to the World Health Organization's July 14 announcement that declared the popular artificial sweetener aspartame "possibly carcinogenic to humans". Sharma is a graphic designer based in Delhi and has used sugar substitutes since 2021. "I am not diabetic but there is a history of diabetes in my family, which is why I have gone completely off sugar. Plus, I am calorie-conscious," she says.
Sugar substitutes are substances used in place of sweeteners that have sugar (sucrose) or sugar alcohols. They have negligible or zero calories because, unlike sugar, they do not get broken down by the body into products that provide energy or calories. Also called non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) or non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), sugar substitutes are primarily of two types: artificial (which are prepared in laboratories; for example, aspartame) and natural (which are derived from plants; for example, stevia). They are used as tabletop sweeteners as well as in food items labelled "sugar free", "lowcalorie" or "diet" across the world.
The global rise in cases of diabetes and obesity has resulted in many opting for sugar substitutes to avoid developing the disease, manage weight or cut calories. This is reflected in an increase in the sale of sugar substitutes. A 2023 report by global market consultancy The Business Research Company projects a rise of 29.4 per cent in the sale of sugar substitutes-from $20.52 billion in 2022 to 29.08 billion by 2027.
Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2023 de Down To Earth.
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Esta historia es de la edición December 16, 2023 de Down To Earth.
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FIX OUR FOOD
Chemical-dependent farming, lax labelling laws, rising anti-microbial resistance must top the agenda
BATTLE THE CAR BULGE
Clean, affordable, integrated and accessible public transport the only solution
CONSERVE NOW
Disregard for biodiversity conservation over the past two decades needs immediate redressal
SCRAP THE DUMP
Disincentivise garbage dumping, invest in behavioural change
PLAN THEM COOL
As urban India turns into a heat trap, the government must focus on improving cities' liveability
THINK LONG-TERM
India needs continued emphasis on flagship programmes, aligned to long-term planning that focusses on water security and circular economy in a climate-risked era
OVERHAUL OVERDUE
Hold polluting industries accountable for public health risks, environmental hazards, climate change; provide them support for green transition
LOOK BEYOND DUST
Reinvent National Clean Air Programme to focus on fine particulate matter and trans-boundary pollution
IT'S NOW OR NEVER
Clean energy sectors need demand-driven markets and domestic industries that can cater to the entire value chain
VISION 2030
Economic growth must take into account needs of energy transition, climate mitigation, with action aligned as per India's 2030 climate goals