Where Do Sugar Alcohols Come from?

Sugar alcohols, also know as polyols, are ingredients used as sweeteners and bulking agents. They occur naturally in foods and come from plant products such as fruits and berries. As a sugar substitute, they provide fewer calories (about a half to one-third less calories) than regular sugar.

How are sugar alcohols made?

It is produced by fermenting the glucose in cornstarch and has 70% of the sweetness of sugar but 5% of the calories. Along with the low-calorie sweetener stevia, erythritol is the main ingredient in the popular sweetener blend known as Truvia.

Are sugar alcohols real alcohol?

Despite "alcohol" being part of the name, sugar alcohol does not contain any ethanol, which is found in alcoholic beverages. While found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, most sugar alcohols are produced industrially, where they are processed from other sugars, including the glucose in cornstarch.