NEW! Resource center of the latest research on the safety and benefits of fructose. These research analyses indicate:
That fructose does not cause biologically relevant changes in triglycerides or body weight when consumed at levels approaching 95th percentile estimates of intake.
There is no evidence which shows that the consumption of fructose at normal levels of intake causes biologically relevant changes in triglycerides or body weight in overweight or obese individuals.
That moderate fructose consumption has no deleterious effect on lipid and glucose control and does not influence body weight.
Click on the "Research Highlights" tab at left to access the resource center.
Click on "For Healthcare Professionals" for fructose related literature reviews and the council’s comments.
Fructose occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables and their juices, as well as honey. It gives these foods their sweet taste. Fructose in crystalline form has been widely used for the past 20 years as a nutritive sweetener in foods and beverages.
The use of fructose has been well studied in both humans and animals for a variety of health conditions. The safety of fructose has been thoroughly documented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health and scientific organizations worldwide. A Joint Consultation of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization found that consumption of sugars is not a causative factor in any disease, including obesity.
Recent statement by the Calorie Control Council about the safety of sucrose.
What is fructose?
Fructose is a natural sugar found in many fruits, vegetables, and honey. It is the sweetest of the naturally occurring nutritive (caloric) sweeteners and has many unique functional and nutritional properties that make it a valuable food ingredient.
What are the benefits of crystalline fructose use in foods and beverages?
Because pure crystalline fructose is sweeter than sugar, less of it is used in products to achieve the same level of sweetness. Thus, pure crystalline fructose can be used in making lower-sugar and lower-calorie foods. Consumer research from the Calorie Control Council Consumer Survey shows that 187 million adult Americans are incorporating low-calorie foods and sugar-free foods and beverages into their diet as part of a healthy lifestyle. People will continue to demand a greater variety of low calorie products as they strive to make healthier food choices.
Fructose has been used in whole new categories of food and beverage products, such as shelf-stable nutrition bars, soft moist cookies, pourable frozen juice concentrates and energy-reduced products.
It has also been suggested that fructose be used for individuals with special dietary or nutritional needs, like endurance athletes.
What has been the impact of crystalline fructose on the amount of total dietary fructose consumed?
Pure crystalline fructose has had a negligible effect on the amount of total dietary fructose consumed because of the small volume of this sugar produced relative to all other naturally occurring and added starches, syrups and sweeteners. Because pure crystalline fructose is so much sweeter than sugar, less of it is used in products to achieve the same level of sweetness, which also contributes to its negligible effect on total fructose intake.