Neotame is an artificial sweetener that is around 8,000 times sweeter than sugar.
It is used as a sugar substitute in a variety of food and beverage products. Neotame is derived from aspartame and is approved for use in many countries around the world, including the United States and European Union. It is considered safe for consumption by most regulatory agencies, although some studies have raised concerns about its potential health effects.
Neotame, chemical name: N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L-α-aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester, is a white crystalline powder containing about 4.5% of crystal water. It is a functional sweetener. It has a pure sweetness and harmonious sweetness, very close to aspartame, without the bitterness and metallic taste that other strong sweeteners often bring. It is 7000 to 13000 times sweeter than sucrose and 30 to 60 times sweeter than aspartame. The energy value is almost zero. It can remain stable under instantaneous high temperature conditions. In cake production, after baking at 450℃, 85% of neotame still exists;
The sweetness of neotame is similar to that of aspartame, without bitterness and other aftertaste. The sweetness of neotame is 8000-10000 times that of sucrose, that is, 8000 times that of sucrose at 5% sweetness, and 10000 times that of sucrose at 2% sweetness.
As a functional sweetener, neotame has no adverse effects on human health and plays a beneficial regulatory or promoting role.
The sweetness is pure, fresh and natural, similar to aspartame, but safer;
The sweetness is high, about 8000 times that of sucrose, and the cost of equal sweetness is lower than that of aspartame;
The nutrients contained are easily absorbed by the human body;
Low energy or no energy, can be eaten by diabetics, does not cause tooth decay, can promote the proliferation of bifidobacteria, etc.;
It does not cause tooth decay or blood sugar fluctuations, and is the preferred sweetener for health foods.
Under acidic conditions, neotame has roughly the same stability as aspartame. Under conditions such as neutral pH range or instantaneous high temperature, neotame is much more stable than aspartame, which greatly expands its application areas, such as in baked goods.
Under normal storage conditions, neotame has excellent stability in dry powder, but its stability in aqueous solution is limited. Its stability is affected by factors such as temperature, pH, time, etc., and its sweetness will decrease to a certain extent. The stability in aqueous solution at room temperature (25°C) is roughly: half-life is 78 days at pH 3.0; half-life is 156 days at pH 4.0; half-life is 208 days at pH 4.5; half-life is 150 days at pH 5.0; half-life is 112 days at pH 5.5. The optimal pH value is 4.5. In view of this, the use of neotame can improve its stability if used in combination with sucrose or other sweeteners.
Sweetness characteristics
Neotame has pure sweetness. In ordinary or sugar-free beverages, replacing part of the sweetener with neotame can not only obtain products with suitable sweetness and flavor, but also reduce product costs.
Research results show that in beverage products, neotame can replace 25% of nutritional sweeteners or high-intensity sweeteners and maintain similar sensory characteristics.
Neotame has the same pure sweetness as sucrose, but neotame has a lingering aftertaste. It can only be evaluated by intuition (tongue feeling).
Stability
Neotame has excellent stability in powdered finished products in dry powder state. Under humidity conditions, the stability of neotame is related to pH, temperature and time. Neotame is suitable for batch production, high temperature short time (HTST) sterilization and aseptic operation processes, and the concentration of neotame in the final product is almost unchanged.
Flavor extension
In specific applications and flavor systems, neotame can significantly extend and enhance the taste and flavor of the product. In the actual application of neotame, due to its modification and certain flavor characteristics, the product requires the product to readjust the content or type of flavor system and acidulant. In powdered beverages, adding neotame can reduce the amount of citric acid by at least 20% without affecting the sour taste of the product.
Safety
A large number of research results show that neotame is suitable for all people, including children, pregnant women, lactating women and diabetic patients. The use of neotame does not require special instructions for patients with phenylketonuria. Neotame can be rapidly metabolized in the body. The main metabolic pathway is to hydrolyze methyl esters through enzymes produced by the human body, and finally generate defatted neotame and methanol. Compared with ordinary foods such as fruit juice, vegetables, and vegetable juice, the amount of methanol generated by the decomposition of neotame is negligible.
The Funtion of Neotame
Neotame functions as a high-intensity sweetener, providing a sweet taste to foods and beverages without adding calories. It is used as a sugar substitute in a wide range of products, including diet sodas, desserts, baked goods, and other low-calorie or sugar-free foods. Neotame is heat-stable, making it suitable for use in cooking and baking applications. It also has a clean, sugar-like taste with no bitter aftertaste, making it a popular choice for manufacturers looking to reduce sugar content in their products without sacrificing flavor. Additionally, Neotame is highly concentrated, so only small amounts are needed to achieve the desired level of sweetness, making it a cost-effective sweetening option for food and beverage manufacturers.
The COA of Neotame
