Litesse® 1965 to present day: Relevance in the Marketplace
Litesse® polydextrose is an example of an ingredient that is uniquely suited to the fluctuating demands of the marketplace and trends within the food industry. It has stood the test of time and is even more relevant today within a market that has become increasingly geared toward health conscious consumers.
With the introduction of high potency sweeteners in the 1960s, the food industry envisioned the potential for many kinds of reduced calorie, sugar free foods and beverages. Product developers and ingredient suppliers recognised the need for a low calorie bulking agent that could replace the textural and mouthfeel qualities lost in the process of reducing/eliminating sugar and fat in food products.
Dr. Hans Rennhard of Pfizer, Inc. began investigating the potential of polysaccharides as low calorie replacements for sugar, fat, flour and starch. In 1965, he created polydextrose, a polymer of dextrose, produced from the naturally occurring components, glucose, sorbitol and citric acid. After 16 years of development, seeking and obtaining FDA approval, Litesse® polydextrose was launched commercially by Pfizer in 1981. From the start, it was clear that Litesse® had many beneficial functional, technological and health-related properties. It was only one calorie per gram, sugar free and uniquely well tolerated. Litesse® was easy to use and it improved the taste and texture of many formulations.
During the 1970s, the nutritional emphasis shifted toward reducing fat intake as a means to cardiovascular fitness and the development of heart-healthy foods became a priority. Litesse® was able to assist in the formulation of new, low/reduced fat food products.
