Part 2: Sugar Alternatives – Labelling & Claims
We recently published part 1 of a three-part series on sugar alternatives, which covered the topics ‘What sugar alternatives are out there?’ and ‘What sugar alternatives are permitted in South Africa?’ Read more here. In this second episode you will find information on:
- Labelling sugar alternatives
- Claims relating to sugar and sugar alternatives
| PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 |
|---|---|---|
| • What sugar alternatives are out there? • What sugar alternatives are permitted in South Africa? |
• Labelling sugar alternatives • Claims relating to sugar and sugar alternatives |
• Other factors to consider when using sugar alternatives |
Labelling sugar alternatives
1. SWEETENERS
Sweeteners are labelled according to R. 733. This regulation states that certain words must be indicated on the label of a foodstuff if it contains certain sweeteners, as follows:
1.1. If a foodstuff contains a non-nutritive sweetener
‘Non-nutritive sweetener’ in brackets must immediately follow the common name of the sweetener in the list of ingredients; or
‘Non-nutritive sweetener’ must appear in the list of ingredients, followed by a semi-colon and the common name of the non-nutritive sweetener that the foodstuff contains.
1.2. If a foodstuff contains aspartame or aspartame-acesulfame salt:
‘Aspartame’ or ‘Aspartame-acesulfame salt’ must appear in the list of ingredients, followed by an asterisk; and an asterisk must appear on a separate line directly below the list of ingredients, followed by the words ‘Contains phenylalanine’; OR ‘Phenylketonurics: contains a source of phenylalanine’, where ‘Phenylketonurics’ refers to people with a birth defect that causes an amino acid called phenylalanine to build up in the body.
1.3. If a foodstuff contains stevia:
‘Steviol glycosides’ or ‘steviol extract’ must appear in the list of ingredients.
- If a foodstuff contains sugar alcohols in excess of 50g/kg of the final product (or 250g/kg, for sugar-free chewing gum):
‘Excessive consumption may have a laxative effect’ must appear on the label of the foodstuff.
2. ADDED SUGARS
Claims relating to sugar and sugar alternatives
‘Sugar-free’
This claim is only permitted for products that have been tested and proven to contain less than 0.5 g total sugar per 100 g/ml final product – i.e. the sum of the added sugars and those naturally present in the ingredients themselves.
Even if a product contains sugar alternatives such as coconut sugar, rice syrup or fruit juice concentrate, a ‘sugar-free’ claim is not permitted unless the tested total sugar content in the product is less than 0.5 g per 100 g/ml.
‘No added sugar’
This claim is permitted for products where no sugar or ingredient that meets the definition of added sugar is included in a product. Products containing sweeteners (but no sugar or added sugar) may carry this claim.
No testing is required to make this claim.
‘Natural’
‘Natural’ claims are reserved for products that are “not the work of man or interfered with by man”; therefore, sugar alternatives may not be claimed as ‘natural’, as they are produced by man and/or extensively processed in extraction and purification.
Honey is an example of a sugar substitute that may carry a ‘natural’ claim, as honey is “not the work of man or interfered with by man”. However, because honey by definition (as per R. 835) is always natural, a ‘natural’ claim may be misleading.
R. 146 also states that additives may not be qualified by the words ‘natural’, ‘synthetic’, ‘artificial’, ‘nature-identical’ or any other similar wording. Therefore, no sweetener may be referred to as ‘natural’ or ‘nature-identical’, and a product may not claim to be ‘free from artificial sweeteners’.
‘Healthy’
The term ‘healthy’ or any wording with similar implications is not permitted according to R. 146. That means that one cannot claim that a certain sugar alternative used in a foodstuff is a healthier alternative to sugar.
Steviol glucosides are permitted for use in South Africa, but cannot be classed as ‘natural’ under South African law. This is because stevia is extensively processed to extract and purify the steviol glucosides; hence it is “the work of man or interfered with by man”, and therefore not a ‘natural’ product.
To refer to or name an added sugar as a ‘sweetener’ is not permitted – even though it does impart a sweet taste – unless it complies with the definition of a sweetener.
In the absence of the option to claim any of the above, descriptive phrases such as ‘use as an alternative to sugar or honey’, ‘as sweet as sugar’ or ‘sweetens any dish’ may be used.
Innovation and regulations don’t always develop in parallel; but FACTS is here to assist you to navigate these murky waters and interpret the regulations. Contact us for regulatory assistance and training; testing for sweeteners and sugar alcohols; or if you want to know more about this topic.
To view the full reference list of this article, please contact us.
Other articles, resources and videos you may be interested in:
Part 1: Sugar Alternatives – Types & Permissibility
Part 3: Sugar Alternatives – Using Sugar Alternatives
The sweet and murky waters of novel sugars and sweeteners
Sugar: sweet regulatory nothings
The Impending Sugar Tax: Sugar Under The Spotlight
Food Labelling Resources
Food Product Development