ISOMALT – Indulgence Without Regret

Low – calorie sweetener for indulgence without a guilty conscience.

As the demand for low-calorie foods is growing. Evonik Industries and Thai company Rajburi Sugar in a joint venture have been producing the sugar substitute Isomalt at a demonstration facility in Ratchaburi (Thailand). Creavis developed the optimized production process.

As sweet as sugar, but with only half the calories: Isomalt is used as a sugar substitute in confectionary such as candies or chewing gum and, as a low-calorie sweetener, is also suitable for diabetics, the number of whom is growing apace in Asia due to changing eating habits.

Isomalt is the only substitute produced from commercial sugar (sucrose). Using the established production process, it used to be quite difficult to keep the residual sugar content in the product below 0.5 percent—the requirement for candies to be allowed to be designated as “sugar-free”. A team from Creavis took just a few years to develop an efficient, continuous process for production of sugar-free Isomalt. The proprietary, now patented process that uses biotechnological methods consists of only a few steps and generates more product from the same original quantity.

The product Risumalt® has a somewhat different composition from conventional Isomalt and boasts several advantages for manufacturers and consumers, one being low moisture absorption. This means that candies, baked goods, and food supplements produced with Risumalt® have a particularly long shelf life. They also do not need to be individually packed because they do not stick together, and they meet consumers’ exacting esthetic and health requirements. This product is now available in all Asian markets.

Company information

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €13.1 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2.15 billion in 2019. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 32,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life, today and tomorrow.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.