The European Association of Polyol Producers (EPA) was established in 1991 to represent the interests of its members at the level of the European Union and other European and international bodies. Its members are the principal producers of polyols (sugar alcohols) in the European Union. Associate membership is open to non-EU producers. (polyols-eu.org ) Through this website, EPA aims to monitor the regulatory developments surrounding polyols and to provide scientifically-based information about polyols to any interested parties including consumers, health practitioners and regulatory bodies. (polyols-eu.org ) Polyols are carbohydrates but they are not sugars. They are also called ‘sugar alcohols’ because their chemical structure resembles partly sugar and partly alcohol but they are neither sugars, nor alcohol. Polyols may be used in food either for sweetening purposes or for technological purposes, e.g. emulsifiers, stabilisers, humectants, thickeners, texturisers and bulking agents. (polyols-eu.org ) Some polyols are found naturally in various fruits and vegetables, for example sorbitol in plums, erythritol in grapes, or xylitol in mushrooms. In order to obtain them in volumes required by their technological and nutritional use in a broad range of food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, industrial processes are applied. Starting materials are all from natural sources (corn, wheat, sugar beet, milk, etc.). (polyols-eu.org ) Depending on the agricultural source, the carbohydrates contained are processed as such, or in the case of corn or wheat enzymatically hydrolysed, i.e. cut by selected enzymes in smaller units. The resulting mono-, di-, oligo- or polysaccharides are then treated with hydrogen and further purified before packaging. Polyols can also be obtained by fermentation process, as with erythritol. (polyols-eu.org ) Polyols are commercially available in powdered and liquid forms. The highest European quality and traceability standards, from raw materials to finished products, are applied by EPA members for the production of their polyols. Quality Management Systems are validated by third-party auditors from appropriate certification bodies. (polyols-eu.org ) New nutrition policies are developed all over the world with the aim to contribute to the prevention of overweight and obesity, and subsequently to the prevention of a number of associated non-communicable diseases. These policies often insist on the need for healthy formulated foods as part of a global approach. Polyols are bulking ingredients with many technological properties similar to sugars, with varying degrees of sweetness (less or the same as sucrose). In addition they have proven benefits in terms of dental health, improved glycaemic control and calorie-reduction. These properties make them a unique asset in healthy food formulation. (polyols-eu.org ) Polyols are used in an increasingly wide variety of commercial food applications in the market today. They exhibit a number of functional and organoleptic characteristics that make them ideal for use in most food applications. (polyols-eu.org ) Since decades polyols play an important role as active ingredients and also as excipients in pharmaceutical formulations. First medical indication of polyols as active ingredients was the treatment of constipation. (polyols-eu.org ) Polyols are commonly used for personal care industry, both the cosmetics and toiletries sectors. Polyols are more and more incorporated as excipients in the manufacture of the essential ranges of personal care products like toothpaste. (polyols-eu.org ) EPA’s Secretariat is located Avenue de Tervueren 13A – Bte 7 – B-1040 Brussels BELGIUM. (polyols-eu.org )
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