Meiji Seika's GF2 Is a Safe Sugar Substitute for Diabetics

Finding a safe sugar substitute for diabetics seems to be an ongoing quest.

Now, Japan’s biggest chocolate maker, Meiji Seika, has developed GF2, a diabetic safe sweetener with twice the sweetness of sugar but with zero calories because it isn’t absorbed by the body. Instead, it is broken down into organic acids in the small intestine.

GF2 is already being used in various chocolate and vegetable drinks.

It is not yet available for sale outside of Japan.

Ensuring diabetics can still satisfy their sweet tooth, GF2 has a similar molecular composition to sugar, but as its name suggests, it has more fructose molecules than natural sugar, which is responsible for the mild differences in taste.