A legal win for tagatose could revolutionise healthier sugar alternatives.
U.S. constitutional lawyer Jonathan Emord recently achieved a significant legal victory against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This landmark case is set to improve food labelling transparency and promote the use of healthier sugar alternatives, such as tagatose.
Bonumose, a company that produces the naturally occurring sugar tagatose, was at the centre of the case. The ruling could lead to more widespread use of tagatose in food products, offering a healthier alternative to traditional sugars and delivering notable health benefits.
What is Tagatose and What are the Benefits?
Tagatose is a simple sugar with a remarkably low glycaemic index compared to traditional sugars, making it an excellent choice for those monitoring blood sugar levels. It avoids causing spikes in blood sugar or insulin, which makes it particularly beneficial for individuals with diabetes or anyone looking to improve their health. By reducing glucose absorption and lowering the glycaemic index of foods, tagatose helps maintain steady blood sugar levels. Additionally, it acts as a prebiotic, promoting gut health, and lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and tooth decay. Even though tagatose is derived from lactose, it remains safe for those with lactose intolerance.
FDA’s Initial Decision and Legal Battle
Despite its substantial health benefits, the FDA initially classified tagatose as an “added sugar,” lumping it with conventional sugars on food labels. This would have misled consumers, making tagatose appear no different from regular sugar and obscuring its advantages.
Bonumose challenged this by filing a Citizen’s Petition requesting that tagatose be exempt from such labelling. When the FDA denied the petition, Emord took legal action and won. The court ruled that the FDA’s decision was arbitrary, especially considering it had previously granted a similar exemption to another natural sugar substitute, allulose.
Impact of the Legal Victory
This legal victory opens the door for alternative sugars like tagatose to gain the visibility and accurate representation they deserve. Tagatose offers a healthier, low-calorie option that slows glucose absorption, potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. With clearer labelling, consumers will be empowered to make more informed choices and embrace better alternatives to traditional sugar.
Discover more about tagatose and other innovative sugar alternatives at https://intelligentsugar.info/.