Manitol

Mannitol is a polyol (polyhydric alcohol) produced from hydrogena-tion from fructose that functions as a sweetener, humectant, and bulking agent. it has low hygroscopicity and poor oil solvency. it has 1.6 kcal/g. it is approximately 22% soluble in water and is approximately 72% as sweet as sugar, exhibiting a cool, sweet taste. it functions as a dusting agent with starch in chewing gum. it is used in sugarless candy, chewing gum, cereal, and pressed mints.
D-mannitol (D-mannohexan-1.2.3.4.5.6-hexaol) is a constituent of several plantsincluding the Manna ash, several edible plants, and seaweed. Parts of the lattercontain up to 10 % mannitol by weight. The solubility in water is approximately 230 g/L at room temperature and it increases with increasing temperature. Mannitolis stable under the common processing conditions of foods.Mannitol is approximately 50 % as sweet as sucrose and non-cariogenic.In the European Union, maltitol is approved as E 421 for a large number of foodapplications. In the United States, mannitol produced by hydrogenation of glucoseor fructose solutions or by fermentation by Zygosaccharomyces rouxii or Lactobacillusintermedius is approved for several food applications. It is also approvedin many other countries.