Sugar alcohols, such as isomalt, maltitol, erythritol and xylitol, have their own line on the Nutrition Facts panel, indented under total carbohydrate. The line is optional until the label says something about sugar: a "sugar free" claim, or any claim about sugars or sugar alcohols, makes it required. If the food has only one sugar alcohol, the line can use its name, "Isomalt 15 g"; with two or more it's "Sugar Alcohol". Sugar alcohols aren't counted as sugars, so a sugar-free toffee can show 0 g of total sugars, but they aren't calorie-free: FDA sets each one's calories per gram, from 2.0 for isomalt and 2.1 for maltitol to 0 for erythritol, against 4 for sugar. That matters for the claim, because "sugar free" makes people expect fewer calories. Unless the food is also low or reduced calorie, every "sugar free" needs "not a reduced calorie food", "not a low calorie food" or "not for weight control" right next to it. And foods heavy in sorbitol or mannitol carry a laxative statement. In the example below, a Dallas toffee maker labels its first sugar-free toffee and peppermint drops.
The short version
- The sugar alcohol line is required once the label makes a claim about sugars or sugar alcohols.
- One sugar alcohol: its own name is allowed. Two or more: "Sugar Alcohol".
- Calories per gram: isomalt 2.0, lactitol 2.0, maltitol 2.1, xylitol 2.4, sorbitol 2.6, HSH 3.0, mannitol 1.6, erythritol 0.
- Sugar free: under 0.5 g sugars, no sugar ingredients, and a calorie claim or statement.
- Not low or reduced calorie: "not a reduced calorie food" next to every "sugar free".
- Sorbitol at 50 g a day, mannitol at 20 g: "Excess consumption may have a laxative effect."
- TaroStack keeps each recipe by weight, so the isomalt in a batch is the recipe's isomalt. More below.
Calories per gram
| Sugar alcohol | Calories per gram |
|---|---|
| Erythritol | 0 |
| Mannitol | 1.6 |
| Isomalt | 2.0 |
| Lactitol | 2.0 |
| Maltitol | 2.1 |
| Xylitol | 2.4 |
| Sorbitol | 2.6 |
| Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates | 3.0 |
| Sugar, for comparison | 4 |
How the rest of the panel is worked out is in how to make a nutrition label, and the other sugar claims in no added sugar label.
The rules
| Rule | Where |
|---|---|
| The sugar alcohol line | Voluntary, but required with a claim about sugar alcohol or total sugars, or added sugars when sugar alcohols are present; a single sugar alcohol's name may be used; nearest gram (21 CFR 101.9(c)(6)(iv)) |
| Calories | 4 per gram for carbohydrate other than fiber and sugar alcohols; each sugar alcohol's own factor (101.9(c)(1)(i)(C), (F)) |
| Sugar free | Under 0.5 g sugars; no sugar ingredients unless asterisked; low or reduced calorie, or the statement each time (21 CFR 101.60(c)(1)) |
| Reduced calorie | At least 25% fewer calories than a reference food, with the comparison (101.60(b)(4)) |
| Reference amounts | Hard candies, 15 g; all other candies, 30 g (21 CFR 101.12) |
| Laxative statement | Sorbitol at 50 g a day (21 CFR 184.1835(e)); mannitol at 20 g (21 CFR 180.25(e)) |
This is general information, not legal advice.
An example: sugar-free toffee and peppermint drops
Bluebonnet Toffee Co., the made-up toffee maker in Dallas, Texas, I use in these examples, was asked by a corporate client for a sugar-free option in its gift tins. It made a toffee with isomalt and maltitol, and peppermint drops with isomalt alone, and checked them against its regular ones:
| Product | Serving | Sugars | Sugar alcohols | Calories | Against the regular | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic English toffee | 30 g | 16 g | 0 | 170 | No claim | |
| Sugar-free English toffee | 30 g | 0 g | 14 g | 140 | 20% fewer | Sugar free, not a reduced calorie food |
| Peppermint drops | 15 g | 15 g | 0 | 60 | No claim | |
| Sugar-free peppermint drops | 15 g | 0 g | 15 g | 30 | 50% fewer | Reduced calorie and sugar free |
The toffee was the surprise. The sugar alcohols halved the sweetener's calories, but the butter is most of a toffee's calories, so the total fell only 20%, short of the 25% for reduced calorie. Every "sugar free" on the toffee tin now says "not a reduced calorie food" beside it, and its panel shows "Sugar Alcohol 14 g", since there are two. The peppermint drops, nearly all isomalt, came in at half the calories, so they're labeled reduced calorie with the comparison, and their panel can say "Isomalt 15 g". Neither has sorbitol or mannitol, so the laxative rules don't apply. The toffee's costs are in toffee business plan, and calorie claims in low calorie claim.
Get the checker
Download the sugar alcohol checker. One sheet: each product's reference amount, fat, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, sugars and grams of each sugar alcohol; the panel line, the calories, whether it can say sugar free, low or reduced calorie, the statement that goes with sugar free and the laxative statement fill in. It's an ordinary Excel file with no macros, and it works in Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.
Where this stops working
The panel is right for the recipe that was analyzed. A batch where someone tops up the isomalt with a little maltitol syrup has two sugar alcohols, a different calorie count and a wrong panel, which only the batch record shows.
How TaroStack does it
TaroStack keeps each recipe by weight, so the isomalt in a batch is the recipe's isomalt.
Recipes by weight. Each toffee and drop is its own recipe, with its butter, isomalt, maltitol and almonds by weight.
Batches by lot. Each batch records which ingredient lots it used and how many boxes it made.
Recalls. If a batch was made from the wrong recipe, one report shows every customer who got it.
| The job | Notebook | In TaroStack |
|---|---|---|
| Which recipe a batch followed | Remembered | Each batch from its recipe |
| Sweeteners used in a batch | Not recorded | From the recipe and batch |
| Who got a wrong batch | Invoices | One recall report |
Recipes, batches and recalls are on every plan, from $49 a month. The first 30 days are free, with no credit card. If you'd like a hand setting up, ask, and we'll do it with you.