Israeli food tech company DouxMatok has entered into a deal with a North American sugar refiner to manufacture commercial quantities of its “more efficient” sugar, according to Food Navigator. The first products containing this sugar are expected to hit the market early in 2021.
DouxMatok’s Sugar Reduction Solution uses the food additive silica to carry sugar molecules and make a food taste sweeter than it would using a comparable amount of plain sugar. Using this method, food companies could use less sugar in their products, since the sugar-infused silica diffuses the sweet taste more efficiently. DouxMatox says food companies can typically use about 40 percent less sugar in their products and still get the same sweet taste.
The company told Food Navigator this week that it is currently working on a second-generation version of its product that will use a more “clean label” fiber than silica (which passes through the body once the sugar is metabolized). While he couldn’t name specifics, DouxMatok founder Eran Baniel said this new carrier for the sugar molecules is definitely a fiber and that it is “slightly more effective than silica in certain applications.”
Nor did Baniel say which North American sugar refiner his company has teamed up with to get its first products in the market. The company struck a deal with Südzucker in Europe in 2018. The North American partner will be announced in October.
While it doesn’t exactly take science to understand the harmful effects of sugar on the human body, many companies are leveraging science to create alternatives. Joywell Foods uses protein found in the “miracle berry” to create an alternative sweetener. Alluose is another sugar alternative, and one Magic Spoon uses to sweeten its kids-cereal-for-adults product.
DouxMatok’s silica product currently works with baked goods, confections, chocolates, and a few other products. According to Food Navigator, the company hopes to find a similar sugar-reduction method and technology for “high-water activity products” like sodas and juices.
