Xylitol
What it does
Bulk sweetener.
How it's made
Made from birch/corn xylan.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol (polyol) that is about as sweet as ordinary sugar, used in sugar-free chewing gum, sweets and oral-care products. It is well known for being tooth-friendly — it actually helps discourage the bacteria that cause decay — and it gives a cool, fresh sensation in the mouth. It occurs naturally in small amounts in many fruits and vegetables.
It is produced from xylan, a plant fibre rich in the sugar xylose, obtained from materials such as birch wood or corn cobs. The xylan is broken down to xylose, which is then hydrogenated — hydrogen added under pressure with a catalyst — to convert it into xylitol. A fermentation route also exists.
The xylitol is purified and crystallised into a white, sugar-like powder. Because it is absorbed and metabolised only partly, it provides fewer calories and has little effect on blood sugar, and it does not feed decay-causing bacteria; as with other polyols, eating a lot can be laxative, and it is notably toxic to dogs, so products are kept away from pets.
Possible reactions
Laxative in larger amounts; highly toxic to dogs.