About the Calorie Control Council

Posted July 23, 2021 by wpengine & filed under About.

The Calorie Control Council, established in 1966, is an international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry. Today it represents manufacturers and suppliers of low- and reduced-calorie foods and beverages, including manufacturers and suppliers of more than two dozen different alternative sweeteners, fibers and other low-calorie, dietary ingredients. Members include:

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America
Apura Ingredients
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Beneo
Cargill
Cellmark USA
The Coca-Cola Company
Cumberland Packing Corp.
Decernis
Galam, Ltd.
Grain Processing Corp.
Ingredion Incorporated
JMC Corporation
Jinhe USA
Keurig Dr Pepper
Matsutani America
Nomad Bioscience
PepsiCo Inc
Samyang Corporation
San Fu Global
SinoSweet
Tate & Lyle

A Deep Dive into the Newly Approved Dietary Fibers

Posted July 13, 2021 by wpengine & filed under Fiber, Health Professionals.

Fiber has recently received increased recognition as a vital component of a healthy diet, and with good reason.

“Fiber has many beneficial effects including lowering cholesterol, reducing blood sugar levels and decreasing risk of heart disease,” says Dr. Keri Peterson, an internal medicine specialist who focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating adult health concerns. “Fiber also aids in weight management by promoting regular bowel movements and providing a feeling a fullness that reduces our appetite.”

Approval as a dietary fiber requires compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s evidence-based definition. This states that dietary fiber declared on the updated Nutrition Facts label can include “certain naturally-occurring fibers that are ‘intrinsic and intact’ in plants, as well as seven other added isolated or synthetic fibers that are well-recognized by the scientific community as having physiological benefits.”

In June 2018, the FDA announced that an additional eight non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) now meet its definition of the term. A ninth was added to the list in March 2019 and a tenth was added to the list in January 2020. These declarations were based on careful review of the scientific evidence supporting the beneficial physiological effects of these ingredients. This evidence was supplied and demonstrated by manufacturers, public comments, and the FDA’s independent evaluation of available literature.

The new guidance, The Declaration of Certain Isolated or Synthetic Non-Digestible Carbohydrates as Dietary Fiber on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, allows these fibers to be counted in the calculation of total fiber per serving for declaration on the Nutrition Fact Label, as well as the Supplement Facts label. Non-digestible carbohydrates that do not meet the regulatory definition of “dietary fiber” at this time can still be used in foods and declared as part of the amount of total carbohydrate on the package.

Some of the fibers meeting the FDA Dietary Fiber Definition include:

Mixed plant cell wall fibers

Definition
Ingredients containing two or more of the following plant cell wall fibers in varying proportions: cellulose; pectin; lignin; beta-glucan; and arabinoxylan.

Benefits
These fibers may include variable amounts of vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients, beneficial to heart health and blood glucose and insulin levels depending on the methods that may be used for isolating and extracting the fiber.

Source
Examples include apple fiber, bamboo fiber, barley fiber, carrot fiber, citrus fiber, cocoa fiber, and corn fiber.

Arabinoxylan

Definition
A predominant non-digestible carbohydrate found in the alkali soluble fraction of psyllium husk.

Benefits
May help lower blood glucose/insulin levels.

Source
A major component of the cell walls of cereal grains.

Alginate

Definition
A soluble fiber composed of β-1,4-D-mannuronic acid and α-1,4-L-guluronic acid organized in homopolymeric compounds of either mannuronate or guluronate, or as heteropolymeric compounds, expressed as mannuronic acid to guluronic acid ratio.

Benefits
Beneficial physiological effect on post-prandial glucose levels.

Source
Alginate is extracted from brown seaweeds as the calcium, magnesium, and sodium salts of alginic acid of various species, (e.g., Ascophyllum, Durvillaea, Ecklonia, Laminaria, Lessonia, Macrocystis and Sargassum)

Products
Often used toimprove the texture of salad dressings, yogurts, and jellies.

Inulin and inulin-type fructans

Definition
A naturally occurring polysaccharide that belongs to a class of carbohydrates known as fructans. Common names used to identify inulin and inulin-type fructans as an ingredient include inulin, chicory root extract, chicory root, chicory root fiber, inulin from chicory, chicory vegetable fiber, fructooligosaccharide, and oligofructose.

Benefits
Several inulin-type fructans demonstrated a beneficial physiological effect on absorption of calcium and bone mineral density.

Source
Extracted from numerous plant products, many of which typically are not consumed as part of the U.S. diet (e.g., chicory root, agave, jicama, Yacon root and Jerusalem artichoke).

Products
Used as a bulking agent/fat replacement in foods, such as candy bars, yogurt, cheese and ice cream.

High amylose starch (resistant starch 2)

Definition
Uncooked native starch that is comprised primarily of 1,4 glycosidic links that are inaccessible to enzymes.

Benefits
Reduction in reducing post-meal insulin levels.

Source
High amylose starch can be found in products such as raw green bananas, raw potatoes, and uncooked high amylose maize/corn and potato starch.

Products
It is found as a supplement and in products such as legumes, oats, cornmeal, rice and potatoes.

Galactooligosaccharide (GOS)

Definition
Oligosaccharides of varying lengths (typically between 2-8 saccharide units) including various linkages of galactose (e.g., β-(1-4), β-(1-6) galactose) and a terminal glucose. GOS is a prebiotic.

Benefits
May increase the absorption of calcium.

Source
GOS is produced by the enzymatic treatment of lactose. It can be found naturally in various foods, including asparagus, garlic, tomato, and banana.

Products
Used to improve the texture of foods and as a bulking agent. Foods that have high GOS levels are red kidney beans, chickpeas, baked beans, split peas, cashews, pistachios, and hummus dip. Drinks that have soymilk made out of soybeans.

Polydextrose

Definition
Synthetic and partially metabolizable water-soluble polymer primarily consists of D-glucose, and is partially-fermented in the colon.

Benefits
May aid in the reduction of caloric intake.

Source
A synthetic polymer of glucose

Products
Polydextrose can be added to foods as in non-sweat baked goods, dairy products, ice creams, breakfast cereals, nutritional beverages, fruit spreads, fillings, chicken nuggets, burgers, surimi, chewing gums, and infant formulas as a bulking agent, formulation aid, humectant, and texturizer.

Resistant maltodextrin/dextrin

Definition
A glucose oligosaccharide. Common names used to identify resistant maltodextrin as an ingredient include soluble corn fiber, resistant dextrin, resistant wheat dextrin, soluble wheat fiber, and wheat dextrin.

Benefits
May help strengthen bones, and increase calcium absorption and body retention. This ingredient also has a low glycemic response, and can therefore be used in foods intended to elicit a lower glucose and insulin response after meals.

Products
Used for fiber enrichment of a variety of foods cereals, baked goods, candy, dairy products, frozen foods, carbonated beverages, and flavored water. It is often used for sugar and calorie reduction, and can be used in hot beverages, baking, or cooking.

Cross linked phosphorylated RS4

Definition
Resistant (wheat) starch

Benefits
May help reduce post-prandial insulin levels

Source
Can be produced from any starch, including wheat, normal corn, high-amylose corn, potato, tapioca, oat, and banana that is treated with sodium trimetaphosphate (a cross-linking agent) and sodium tripolyphosphate (a substituting agent).

Products
Flour-based food items, yogurt, salad dressings, sandwich spreads, sweet goods, sauces, confections and frozen desserts.

Glucomannan

Definition
A natural, water-soluble dietary fiber extracted from the roots of the elephant yam.

Benefits
May help treat constipation, control sugar levels in diabetes and reduce cholesterol levels.

Source
It is comprised 40% by dry weight of the roots, or corm, of the konjac plant.

Products
Used as a human food additive and a dietary supplement for humans and animals.

Shum and Georgia’s “Review” Is More of An Opinion ‎

Posted June 8, 2021 by wpengine & filed under Health Care Professionals, Health Professionals, Media Room, Weight Management.

Shum B, Georgia S. The Effects of Non-Nutritive Sweetener Consumption in the Pediatric Populations: What We Know, What We Don’t, and What We Need to Learn. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021 Apr 1;12:625415. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.625415.

This paper purports to assess, in part, the effects of low-and-no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) on the weight, caloric intake, gut microbiota, and glucose homeostasis of children. While labeled as a “mini review” by the journal’s editors, I would refine that classification as a limited and hand-picked review. The authors seem to ignore and/or downplay the plethora of studies showing positive outcomes from a judicious use of LNCS. Moreover, they seem to start out with an ideology and an agenda, as evidenced by this statement in the Introduction:

“This review will discuss the physiological mechanisms that contribute to the negative metabolic effects of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS)…We will focus on how NNS alters the sweet perception leading to increase caloric consumption, how NNS alters the gut microbiota, and how disrupting metabolism and glucose homeostasis can cause pancreatic endocrine dysfunction.”

This unjustified assumption of negative outcomes from the outset raises a red flag. As a result, this “mini review”, can no longer be considered an objective one. Rather than consider the totality of credible science, the authors tended to reference studies that fit their agenda.

Also in the Introduction, the authors stated, “NNS that were once considered inert, like saccharin, have been reported to have negative metabolic effects in observational studies, including increasing weight gain, adiposity, and risk of developing T2DM. This is a misinterpretation, as it implies cause-and-effect, which observational studies are not capable of doing. Observational studies on ANY food or ingredient will likely produce a statistical event, showing an “association,” and serve merely to generate a hypothesis and nothing more.

The authors suggestion that the benefits of weight reduction may or may not outweigh “the potential negative health outcomes including type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome” is troubling. As a clinician, sound weight reduction is strongly recommended for overweight and obese persons with these chronic conditions. As for “potential negative health outcomes”, one of their referenced reviews (Lohner, et al.) noted, “no conclusive evidence for beneficial and harmful effects on those outcomes.”

The research of Susan Swithers and colleagues was often cited in this review, though this research focuses on rats, not humans, used samples too small for clinically meaningful results and lasted only five weeks. Subsequent research by this investigator has continued to be criticized for poor methodology, small numbers of animals, and even “data dredging”.

More objective research, such as one by Piernas et al, as part of the CHOICE study, demonstrated strong credibility, yet was not referenced at all. Piernas, et al looked at the substitution of sugar-sweetened beverages with similar beverages sweetened with LNCS and found that use of the LNCS-sweetened beverages resulted in weight loss, as well as a reduced intake of desserts. Moreover, the study design included humans, a more appropriate sample size and followed the groups for 6 months. While it could be argued that the Piernas study did not look at children specifically, with the exception of the acknowledgement of three randomized, controlled studies that found “reduced weight gain when ‎regular soda is replaced with NNS soda in children and adolescents”‎, neither did the studies cited by Shum and Georgia. Unfortunately, the authors devoted more space to poorly-designed animal studies.

Regarding the purported impact of LNCS on the gut microbiota, the author began with a discussion of the differences between the microbiota of obese and normal weight persons, without a mention of LNCS. They continue to cite animal studies, including those criticized for flawed methodology and misleading presentation of data, and do not acknowledge a plausible mechanism for any reported changes. To date, such a mechanism for how LNCS would negatively alter the gut microflora does not exist. Some sweeteners, such as sucralose, as well as the metabolites of aspartame (aspartic acid and phenylalanine) either never reach the colon or are excreted intact. This means they cannot act as a substrate for gut bacteria. Others, such as Stevia, have shown a mild, but positive, impact on the gut microbiota, increasing levels of good bacteria. Still others, such as saccharin, have been shown to alter the gut microbiota when given at doses that are irrelevant to humans.

Lastly, Shum and Georgia cited research showing that gut bacterial diversity varied between consumers and non-consumers of LNCS. Not only did this small study fail to address variations in dietary intake, the authors themselves concluded, “there are no notable differences in microbiome profiles or predicted functional capacity, but there may be differences in overall bacterial diversity.” Further, a 2019 review of these same studies conducted by Lobach et al yet concluded, “changes in the diet unrelated to LNCS consumption are likely the major determinants of change in gut microbiota numbers and phyla, confirming the viewpoint supported by all the major international food safety and health regulatory authorities that LNCS are safe at currently approved levels.”

Bottom line: This “review” strains credibility and ignores the decades of sound evidence for judicious use of LNCS to help manage weight, diabetes, and overall reduction of sugar intake.

Keith Ayoob, EdD, RDN, FAND, is an Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. As a pediatric nutritionist and registered dietitian, Dr. Ayoob is also a past national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr. Ayoob is a consultant with the Calorie Control Council Advisory Board and the Global Stevia Institute (GSI), GSI is supported by PureCircle Ltd, a global leader in purified stevia leaf extract production.

Survey Uses Parent Data To Draw Wide Conclusions About Sugar and Sweetener Labeling

Posted June 7, 2021 by wpengine & filed under Children, Health Care Professionals, Media Room.

Keith Ayoob, EdD, RDN, FAND

This study looks at parents’ ability to identify added sugar, low-and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS), and juice in children’s beverages.

Parents were randomly assigned to view one of the following:

The front of the package by itself, or
The front and back/side of the package, (whichever included the nutrition facts panel (NFP) and the ingredients list, and the percentage of juice).

The parents were offered a “Yes or No” response to indicate whether they thought the beverage contained added sugar or LNCS. They were also asked to use a sliding scale (0%-100%) in order to indicate their understanding of the beverage’s percentage of juice.

Parents were then asked to indicate whether products with names identifying the type of beverage (i.e. “juice drink” or “100% juice”, etc.) contained added sugar or LNCS. Finally, they were asked to indicate the percentage of juice the beverage contained.

Among the findings:

The majority of parents, up to 90%, depending on the product, were competent in identifying beverages with added sugar. When shown the ingredient list, their accuracy improved further.
Fewer than half of the parents correctly determined that drinks did not contain added sugar, based on the beverages’ statements of identity (legal definitions). This suggests that parents may be unfamiliar with the formal distinctions between the various beverages.

How informative is this study? Perhaps less so than the authors had hoped, for several reasons. First, the authors admitted the survey tool hadn’t been validated. How should we interpret the results of a study that used an unvalidated tool? Some in the scientific community might have difficulty taking these results seriously.

Further, the authors’ conclusion that, “The present findings support the need for revised regulations that clearly and consistently convey drink ingredients, including added sugar, LNCS and type and percentage of juice,” is troubling. It could also be argued that many physicians and healthcare professionals are similarly unfamiliar with legal beverage descriptions. The authors’ conclusion stops short of suggesting that if consumers were simply more knowledgeable, then they would choose water that is unflavored, flavored water that is not sweetened with sugar or LNCS, or 100% juice, as opposed to beverages with added sugar or LNCS.

The assumption that consumers would make different choices if more information were ‎available is baseless. Merely providing additional product ingredient information won’t necessarily alter behavior. This information may help inform choices, but it won’t necessarily change them. To suggest otherwise dismisses the consumer’s power of free choice. Providing caloric information on menu boards at fast food restaurants, for example, doesn’t necessarily prompt consumers to order differently. Their menu decisions, however, may be more informed.

Moreover, in addition to 100% juice, beverages that include LNCS may be very useful options when reducing added sugars is a goal. The 2019 policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics aligns, as it states: “Individuals affected by certain conditions (e.g., obesity and type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus) may benefit from the use of LNCS if substituted for caloric sweeteners.”

The authors also discount the possibility that the more consumers know about LNCS, the more they will realize they have no reason to fear them. These ingredients are simply tools for reducing sugar intake. As with all tools, they should be used wisely. LNCS are not a “cure” for obesity, type 2 diabetes or any condition, nor should they be given the burden of being such.

Finally, it’s doubtful that consumers are familiar with the mountain of research documenting the safety of LNCS across all populations, including children. Although LNCS are not recommended for children under age two years, this is not due to issues of safety. Rather, the goal in infants and toddlers is to provide a diet that doesn’t displace valuable nutrients in the often-modest volume of food and fluids this age group consumes. Proper labeling should inform consumers about food and beverage products and their ingredients by providing accurate information that assist them in making choices that fit the needs of their children and themselves.

Harris JL, Pomeranz JL. Misperceptions about added sugar, non-nutritive sweeteners and juice in popular children’s drinks: Experimental and cross-sectional study with U.S. parents of young children (1-5 years). Pediatr Obes. 2021 Apr 7:e12791. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12791.

Q&A about Exercise and Heart Health with Cardiologist Dr. Debra Judelson

Posted June 3, 2021 by wpengine & filed under Exercise, Healthy Lifestyle, Heart Health.

Dr. Debra Judelson is a cardiologist and a scientific advisor to the Calorie Control Council. We caught up with the doctor to discuss the importance of physical activity for heart health.

I hear more and more people talking about exercise being important but I’m afraid I’m ‎not healthy enough. Is exercise important for me?‎

Physical activity has always been important. As our lifestyles became more sedentary, the ‎focus was on structured exercise. But now, scientists and health experts realize that ‎physical activity is important. You can still be active without going to a gym. Physical ‎activity is important in preventing heart disease and stroke. And, you can still benefit ‎from activity even if you’ve already been diagnosed with, or are at high risk for ‎developing, a heart condition — so talk to your doctors about activities you can do.‎

How much physical activity do I really need every day? I always seem to run out of time ‎to go to the gym.‎

It’s not just time at the gym that counts. Physical activity is anything that makes you ‎move your body and burn calories. The American Heart Association recommends at least ‎‎150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise. ‎You can even divide that up to three 10 minute segments if that is easier to schedule. But ‎everyone has to start somewhere so if you can’t make this goal, set one you can reach to ‎get yourself started. You can work towards the goal of 150 minutes a week as you get ‎stronger. Think of ways to walk more during your day. Can you stand or walk in place ‎while on the phone, window shop the entire mall before you start shopping, walk around ‎the block with family, friends, neighbors, pets? Try dancing, gardening, or golf (and start ‎to walk the course first). For these and other physical activities, see the Council’s “Get ‎Moving” calculator showing calories burned per activity.‎

How do I know if I’m overdoing it or underdoing it when I am being active? ‎

There are a few ways to check this. You can use one of the many heart rate monitors that ‎are available; especially if you like technology or it motivates you. Or you can judge the ‎intensity based on how you feel. Moderate activity feels somewhat hard so your breath ‎quickens and you start to sweat after about 10 minutes. But you should still be able to ‎carry on a conversation. Vigorous activity is more challenging so you will sweat after just ‎a few minutes and you won’t be able to say more than a few words before catching your ‎breath. As you get stronger, you’ll notice that you can be more active than when you first ‎started. But be careful not to overdo it. Back off a little bit if your heart rate is too high, ‎or if you are short of breath, can’t work out as long as you planned to, or are in pain.‎

There are so many kinds of exercise. How do I know what is right for me?‎

The exercise that is right for you is the activity you can keep doing and hopefully enjoy ‎doing. The exercises that are most known for being heart healthy are “aerobic”. These are ‎the activities you should try to do for 150 minutes each week. Examples are walking, ‎cycling, swimming, jogging and climbing stairs. But there are benefits to other activities ‎and there is a variety of options to keep you from getting bored and help you get fit and ‎healthy. Some, like yoga and tai-chi, help us improve our balance and strength. Others ‎help stretch your whole body and your muscles to help you be more flexible. You can also ‎strengthen your muscles, bones, and the rest of your body with strength and resistance ‎activities. Don’t forget about the benefits of yoga. It may not count towards your 150 ‎minute goal each week but the relaxation and meditation benefits may give you added ‎benefits. If you haven’t been very active lately, then start exploring your options. Most ‎people keep doing activities they enjoy doing and then find it easier to be more active. ‎One activity that is popular to start with is walking.‎

Any other tips to help get me started and stay motivated about being more active?‎

Set some reasonable, short-term goals that you can work towards. Make sure you stay ‎hydrated and avoid exercising when you are hungry. Remember to balance the calories ‎you eat and drink for your activities with your other health goals. With so many options, ‎find exercise that suits your personality as well as your health. Check your library or ‎online for exercise videos to see if you might like a particular activity. A lot of class-based ‎activities will let you try one to see if you like it. There are activities that are more suited ‎to those that need some alone time and others where team mates or class mates are around ‎so consider what you like more. And most importantly, remember that everyone gets busy ‎and struggles. Don’t get discouraged when you don’t reach your goal — just try it again ‎the next day.‎

This article was originally published on May 15, 2015

Research on Children and Teens and Low-Calorie Beverages does not Challenge Evidence of Calorie Reduction and Weight Management Benefits

Posted April 1, 2021 by wpengine & filed under Children, Media Room, Statements, Uncategorized.

Statement Regarding “Consumption of low‐calorie sweetened beverages is associated with higher total energy and sugar intake among children, NHANES 2011–2016”Allison C. Sylvetsky, Janet Figueroa, Talia Zimmerman, Susan E. Swithers, Jean A. Welsh
Pediatric Obesity Pediatric Obesity

ATLANTA — The Calorie Control Council (CCC) recommends careful interpretation of the findings of a recent observational study that looked to compare calorie and added-sugar consumption in children and adolescents who consumed low-calorie sweetened beverages (LCSB), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) or water. While researchers looked to compare calorie intake among the three groups, this study did not take into account two key factors – changes in body weight and overall calorie intake over time – making the authors’ conclusions inappropriate. Therefore, these results do not challenge the existing evidence that LCSB are one of many helpful tools in weight management and overall calorie reduction.

There are a lot of unknowns in this study – too many to allow specific conclusions. As a clinician of over 30 years, I have had many parents ask if LCSB can be helpful to their kids, I tell them of course, but these are just one tool of many available, and to get the best use of them, you have to maximize their potential. LCSB can help you consume fewer calories from added sugars and they can help make a lower calorie diet more palatable so you can adapt to it more comfortably. Even if weight loss isn’t necessary, a lower sugar diet that still tastes good is a win-win.
Dr. Keith Ayoob, Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Scientific Advisor for the Calorie Control Council

Keri Peterson, MD, medical advisor for the Calorie Control Council notes, “This study reflects caloric intake over one single 24 hour period. To exert that this represents a person’s overall dietary pattern is a gross extrapolation. Additionally the study did not examine body weight fluctuations over time. Thus, it is not able to accurately make any comments on the use of LCSB in weight management. While water is the recommended beverage of choice, consumption of LCSB remains a valid means for weight control.”

Study Drawbacks

1. Study is Observational, Unable to Prove Causality

As this study is observational, researchers are unable to prove a causal relationship between increased calorie intake and LCSB consumption. Observational data can be used to make associations, but is not intended to be used to draw conclusions about any variables or health outcomes. While the authors do admit this within the discussion section, their overall conclusions suggest otherwise.

2. Other Diet & Lifestyle Factors Not Taken into Consideration

This study did not review the diet quality or any of the other foods consumed by the population groups over time. LCSB consumers actually had lower added sugar intake compared to SSB consumers, which is a positive outcome. The authors’ conclusion that drinking LCSB was associated with consuming 15 more calories of added sugar than water drinkers is clinically insignificant.

3. Self-reporting Leads to Misreporting

The study results were dependent on self-reported data assessed via in-person dietary recall with participants, aged 2-17. Such recall is subject to misreporting, especially among younger participants, which can result in inaccurate data collection. Additionally, the collected data was not validated via other assessment measures in this study.