SWEET has taken existing and novel S&SEs and incorporated these in foods typically high in sugar. Data bases have been developed to inform current and future selection and examine safety issues. The project also sought to understand the effects of S&SEs on sensory and biological processes in the body and how they may influence behaviour. Looking at individual food preferences and taste responses the project has examined how S&SEs interact to increase diet satisfaction without stimulating over consumption. A large-scale study has examined the long-term impact of consuming a diet containing S&SEs on human appetite, food choice and body weight and particularly whether and how they help consumers maintain weight loss. The project has also measured real word use of S&SEs via biomarkers in urine to validate against self-report mechanisms. With this understanding the project has examined the relationship between self-report S&SE use and health outcomes from a number of existing cohort studies to better inform evidence-based guidelines and policy. Beyond health the wider economic, social and environmental impact of adopting S&SEs to replace sugar have been examined through life cycle analysis of specific S&SEs chosen from those developed in foods. Throughout the project the concerns of consumers along with other barriers to innovation have informed our approach. This will ensure that the products that consumers need and want are developed and meet all regulatory requirements. This will make it easier for industry to commit to sugar replacement. Ultimately, the data yielded has been used to develop a decision support tool to help manufactures select the best ingredients and get products that consumers need and want to market.
In terms of impact, SWEET has built effective partnerships between public and private sector partners to generate evidence on the potential use of S&SEs in combating obesity while improving the sustainability of food in the EU. The project has helped industry responsibly develop S&SEs acceptable to consumers to replace sugar in foods and beverages. This has relied on enhanced understanding of the economic, social and environment impact of these changes. SWEET has also empowered the consumer by allowing a greater number of potential, and better-informed food choices to improve their diet. Moreover, by considering individual differences in needs, responses and preferences products have been tailored to specific consumer needs. Regulators have been informed on the safety of new products and S&SE blends including the long-term impact of their use in the diet. Stakeholder workshops have fed in concerns, barriers, and potential solutions and have provided dissemination routes. The resulting stakeholder plan has ensured delivery of the above impacts via communication between consumers, patient representatives and advocates, non-governmental organisations, ingredients makers, food producers and retailers, health experts, regulators and media.
