Chocolate with less sugar? The biotechnology company Sanomix develops for Coca Cola, Nestle and others a substance that deceives the sense of taste and increases the sweetness or saltiness of food and drink
The news agencies, Haaretz, News and Walla!
Some of the largest food and beverage companies in the world are examining the possibility of using a new food ingredient that will help them in the fight for the hearts of health-conscious consumers: a chemical substance that tricks the taste buds in the mouth into sensing sugar and salt even when they are not in the food. Kraft Foods, Nestle, Coca-Cola and Campbell Soup work with a biotechnology company called Senomyx, which develops several chemicals, most of which have no taste of their own. These substances work by activating or blocking receptors in the mouth, which are responsible for the sense of taste. They can enhance or duplicate the taste of sugar, salt and monosodium glutamate in food.
The food manufacturers can, by adding the Somix flavorings, reduce the amount of sugar in sweets, for example, or reduce the amount of salt in canned food and ready-made food, while maintaining the same level of saltiness or sweetness.
Senomics was based on the analysis of the human gene to identify hundreds of receptors in the human mouth that detect different tastes. The chemicals she developed activate the receptors in a way that emphasizes the taste of salt or sugar. The company is still conducting experiments to determine which ingredients are the most powerful.
Food safety experts praised the effort to reduce amounts of sugar and salt in food, but warned that many trials are required before the new substances can be sold as a food ingredient. Sanomix claims that the new products are safe, as they will be used in tiny amounts.
Kraft, Nestle, Coca-Cola and Campbell Soup have signed contracts with Snomix for the exclusive use of ingredients for certain types of food and beverages. So far, Snomix has been paid 30 million dollars jointly for research and development purposes. Snomics will collect commissions of 1%-4% of its customers' product sales after incorporating its components into them.
The salt taste-enhancing additive may be a gold mine for the food industry, as sodium levels in prepared foods are considered high and harmful to health. In February, the Center for Public Interest in Science sued the US Food and Drug Administration, demanding that it begin monitoring salt as a food additive.
A new scientist - nutrition
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~130742494~~~220&SiteName=hayadan
