More applications for Isomalt in India

9 August 2010 – The Indian Ministry of Health has approved the use of Beneo’s low GI Isomalt sweetener in a variety of new food categories.

While already approved for western-style confectionery, chewing gum and chocolate products, the approval opens up for usage in traditional products such as Jalwa, Mysore Pak and Boondi Ladoo, as well as instant sweetmeal mixes, bakery goods, jams, jellies and marmalades, ice cream, frozen desserts and yogurts.

Isomalt is derived from pure sugar-beet, and is said to be a low glycaemic (low GI), reduced calorie, tooth-friendly alternative to sugar. This has particular relevance to India as the country has 31.7 million diabetes cases acccording to the World Health Organisation.

The new approval follows cooperation between the Beneo Institute and the Indian authorities. Anke Sentko, the vice president of regulatory affairs and nutrition communication at Beneo, says, “Within the BENEO-Institute, we have worked alongside the Ministry of Health in India, their Committee experts, the Nutrition Institute and Food technology experts to ensure that all necessary information was available to make an informed decision on Isomalt.”