Polyols in Food: Sweetness, Functionality, and Nutritional Balance

Discover Roquette’s polyol solutions—sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, and xylitol—for sugar-free and reduced-sugar food. Enhance taste, texture, and oral health.

What are polyols?

Polyols—also known as sugar alcohols—are carbohydrate-based bulk sweeteners derived from starches. Roquette produces a wide range of polyols, including sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol and xylitol, using hydrogenation processes that transform sugars into stable, functional ingredients.

Naturally present in fruits and vegetables, polyols offer mild sweetness with fewer calories than sugar. Their neutral taste, high stability, and diverse functionalities make them essential tools in food formulation, especially for sugar-free and reduced-sugar products.

Why polyols matter in food and beverage formulation

Polyols are more than sweeteners—they’re multifunctional ingredients that help food developers meet consumer expectations for healthier, indulgent, and sustainable food experiences.

Their versatility makes them ideal for applications ranging from chewing gum, chocolate and mints to ice cream, pastries, and nutritional supplements.

In food, polyols help manufacturers:

Reduce sugar and calories

Polyols deliver sweetness with lowecaloric value, and very low glycemic impact—ideal for sugar-free and “better-for-you” products.

Support oral health

Maltitol, xylitol and sorbitol are non-cariogenic and widely used in oral care and sugar-free confectionery.

Enhance sensory experience

Xylitol and sorbitol provide a refreshing cooling effect due to their rapid dissolution and negative heat of solution.

Improve texture and stability

Polyols help retain moisture, prevent crystallization, and stabilize formulations in baked goods, and seafoods products

Enable friendly label positioning

Naturally occurring and well-documented, polyols meet consumer demand for trusted ingredients.

Roquette’s polyols portfolio

Roquette is a global leader in polyol production, with over 70 years of expertise and a commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability. Our polyols are produced from renewable raw materials in facilities across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Our food-grade polyols include:

NEOSORB^® Sorbitol

For moisture retention, sweetness, and cryoprotection in baked goods and seafood

SweetPearl^®Maltitol

A mild sweetener with excellent solubility and stability, ideal for sugar-free chocolate and chewing gum.

NEOSORB^® and SweetPearl^® XTAB

Direct compressible polyols enabling creative sugar-free tablets

LYCASIN^® Maltitol Syrup

A sweet taste sugar substitute for soft confectionery, ice cream and bakery.

XYLISORB^® Xylitol

Delivers full sweetness and a strong cooling effect, widely used in oral care and sugar-free confectionery.

Mannitol

Known for its crystallinity and low hygroscopicity, used in chewing gum.

Reliability you can build on

Roquette’s polyols reflect our legacy of innovation and our commitment to helping food manufacturers create products that combine nutrition, indulgence, and sustainability. With a vertically integrated supply chain, non-GMO sourcing, and global technical support, we offer the reliability and expertise needed to move forward with confidence.

Whether you're developing sugar-free confectionery, functional snacks, or specialized nutrition products, Roquette’s polyols provide the performance and flexibility to meet your goals—without compromise.