CJ Cheil Jedang develops and markets new-concept sugar

By Kim Tae-gyu

CJ Cheil Jedang has unveiled a new xylose sugar isolated from coconut shells, which the firm claims would offer as sweet a taste as conventional products while substantially reducing health concerns.

The Seoul-headquartered outfit said on Wednesday that the xylose sugar will hit the domestic market beginning next week so as to reverse the recent trend of cutting down on sugar intake.

``We have researched xylose, sources of sugar substitute xylitol, since 2006 to extract xylose sugars from coconut shells for the first time in the world,’’ CJ Executive Vice President Lee Jae-ho told a press conference.

``Xylose sugars offer the same sweet taste as existing products but the former’s sugar absorption rate is lower than the latter. They are new-concept items, which will change the face of the sugar industry.’’

The sugar absorption rate alludes to the speed at which food is converted into blood sugar. A general belief is that a higher rate poses more health threats, particularly for diabetes patients.

CJ also said that the nation’s first-string food company plans to introduce tagatose sweetener later this year, which it contends reduces blood glucose after meals.

``Tagatose sweeteners taste almost like sugar. But they have just a third of the calories for sugar. In addition, they work as detergents against the rise of blood sugar levels according to international studies,’’ Lee said.

``Up until now, people have tended to cut their sugar intake. With two healthy sugars and sweeteners, we will reverse the trend down the road.’’

CJ, which started in 1953 as a food arm of Samsung Group later spun off from it, aims to chalk up some 1 trillion won ($924 million) in revenue from the new sugars and sweeteners by 2015.

Toward that end, the firm vowed to attack not only the domestic markets but also those overseas.