Project description
New technology for a healthier sugar
Sugar activates the brain’s reward system (mesolimbic dopamine system). This is why sugary treats make us feel happy. But there’s a downside to this sweet picture. Increased sugar consumption is resulting in increased levels of obesity in children and adults. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on food industries to take on global initiatives to reduce the intake calories from sugar. But what if ‘fixing’ sugar is better than replacing it? In this context, the EU-funded SLADCORE project will bring to market a new generation of sucrose that’s sweeter than table sugar. This novelty ingredient is the result of a structural modification of table sugar. The project will provide a feasibility study for the commercialisation of the product.
Objective
TOSLA's project SLADCORE aims to further develop a new generation of table sugar with 40 percent greater sweetness than table sugar. The corresponding technology development will be based on the natural modification of sucrose structure.
According to WHO table sugar is public health enemy number 1. It is considered the main culprit for rising obesity throughout the world, including Europe. The food industry's main response to date has been focused on reduction of their product calory content by relying on alternative sweeteners. Most of these sweeteners failed to comply with industry standards regarding colour, aroma, texture, fermentation or shelf-life. More importantly, some of these sweeteners have been found to be greater health hazard than table sugar.
TOSLA's innovative approach is based on the principle »fixing sugar is better than replacing it«. By using SLADCORE, which performs exactly like table sugar, food industry, especially its confectionery sector, would be able to reduce their product calory content without resorting to hazardous sweeteners. TOSLA has successfully established itself in the natural sweetener market with its flagship product, a unique, premium natural liquid sweetener InvertoseTM. SLADCORE represents a next step in an effort to expand the market of naturally modified sugar to confectionery producers and other sectors of the food industry. Many European confectionery SMEs already showed interest in SLADCORE by endorsing its feasibility and marketabilty. Furthermore, the proposed innovation grabbed the attention of other relevant stakeholders and a global industrial key player.
The purpose of the SME 1 proposal is to outline the full scope of future development of TOSLA's latest innovative product: the analysis of technical and business feasibility issues, the associated risks, and the project`s commercial potential.
Fields of science
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic health
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolors
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesity
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybioprocessing technologiesfermentation
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy
- H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
- H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
1000 LJUBLJANA
Slovenia
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.