sødemiddel

A sødemiddel, or sweetener, is a substance used to provide a sweet taste to foods and beverages. Sweeteners can be broadly categorized into natural and artificial types. Natural sweeteners are derived from plants or animals and include sugars like sucrose (table sugar), fructose (found in fruits), and lactose (found in milk). Honey and maple syrup are also common natural sweeteners.

Artificial sweeteners, also known as high-intensity sweeteners, are synthetic compounds that are significantly sweeter than sugar, often hundreds or thousands of times sweeter. They provide sweetness with very few or no calories. Examples include aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and steviol glycosides (derived from the stevia plant).

The use of sweeteners is widespread in the food industry, particularly in products marketed as "diet," "sugar-free," or "low-calorie." They are used in beverages, baked goods, confectionery, yogurts, and chewing gum, among other products.

The choice of sweetener often depends on factors such as desired sweetness level, caloric content, taste profile, and regulatory approval in different regions. Some sweeteners may also have functional properties beyond sweetness, such as contributing to texture or acting as preservatives. Concerns regarding the health effects of certain sweeteners have been raised and are a subject of ongoing scientific research and public discussion.