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ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY
Letters to the Editor

Isomaltulose

  • Bob Boyd

The Editorial Executive Committee welcomes letters, which should be less than 250 words. Before a decision to publish is made, letters which refer to a published article may be sent to the author for a response. Any letter may be sent to an expert for comment. When letters are published, they are usually accompanied in the same issue by their responses or comments. The Committee screens out discourteous, inaccurate or libellous statements. The letters are sub-edited before publication. Authors are required to declare any conflicts of interest. The Committee's decision on publication is final.

 

Letter to the Editor

Editor, – Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has recently approved a new sugar substitute called isomaltulose, but this product may pose a risk to individuals with disorders of fructose metabolism.

FSANZ has assessed isomaltulose and concluded that it is safe for the general population. It is not suitable for those very few people with disorders in fructose metabolism or people with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency. People with these conditions are recommended to avoid foods containing isomaltulose.

We want the medical and dietetic professions to be aware of this and so are informing the peak professional bodies and the medical media about this product. In addition, FSANZ has prepared a fact sheet on isomaltulose which is available on its website (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/factsheets/factsheets2007/informationaboutisom3627.cfm).

Bob Boyd
Chief Medical Advisor
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand

Bob Boyd

Chief Medical Advisor, Food Standards Australia New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand