What is the sweetener in the exam questions?

　What are the sweeteners in the exam questions?Sucralose, aspartame and acesulfame potassium are classified as designated additives, and stevia is classified as an existing additive.

　Sucralose is made by substituting chlorine for the three hydroxy groups of sucrose.It has a refreshing sweetness similar to sugar, which is 600 times that of sucrose, which is the main component of sugar.In addition to diet drinks, it is used in medicines and health foods because it has the effect of counteracting unpleasant tastes such as bitterness.

　Aspartame is a dipeptide consisting of two types of amino acids, L-phenylalanine and L-aspartic acid.It has about 2 times the sweetness of sucrose and is used in tabletop seasonings, confectionery, and dairy products.Patients with phenylketonuria should be careful when using it because the metabolic enzyme of L-phenylalanine does not work well.

　Acesulfame potassium is a sweetener made from acetic acid.It is about 200 times as sweet as sucrose and has a good rise in sweetness, but it has a characteristic aftertaste.When combined with sweeteners such as aspartame, the sweetness is close to that of sugar, so it is widely used in beverages and confectionery.

　Stevia is an extract of the sweetness component of the Asteraceae plant Stevia.The sweetness component is stevia glycosides such as stevioside, and the sweetness is about 200 to 300 times that of sucrose.It is used in pickles, fish paste products, dressings, etc.

　HFCS is an abbreviation for high-fructose corn syrup and is called "high-fructose corn syrup" in Japanese.The raw material is starch contained in corn and potatoes.In the United States, all the ingredients are corn, so this name was given.It is an enzyme-treated starch that has a structure similar to that of sucrose and has almost the same metabolism.It is as sweet as sucrose and is made from starch.Since it is a liquid, it is easy to handle and is often used in soft drinks, but since it is for food processing, it is rarely directly obtained by us consumers.

　Both sugar and sweeteners have their benefits and risks, and it's up to you to decide what you think.However, correct knowledge is required for that.The sweeteners addressed in this issue have been confirmed to be safe and effective, and are essential for enriching the diet.I hope that this question will not arouse the anxiety of the examinees, but will also give them correct knowledge and understanding.
 
Science writer Narumi Sato
 

* 1 University Journal Online January 25
Food Additives Association complains about English questions for university entrance test
https://univ-journal.jp/79156/

* 2021 Opinion on English (reading) question sentences of the XNUMX Common Test for University Admissions, Japan Food Additives Association
https://www.jafaa.or.jp/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/210121_kyokaikenkai_re.pdf

* XNUMX Food Safety Information Network Opinions and requests to the National Center for University Entrance Examinations and Responses from the National Center for University Entrance Examinations
https://sites.google.com/site/fsinetwork/jouhou/exam_english2021