Tagatose – a rare sugar that occurs in tiny quantities in some fruits and grains as well as in the cocoa tree – is 92% as sweet as sugar, maintains a clean, no-aftertaste flavor profile as well as provides critical functionality such as bulking, mouthfeel, caramelization, freezing-point depression and low hygroscopicity. Tagatose has a negligible glycemic index (3), 60 percent fewer calories than sucrose and prebiotic, fiber-like benefits by feeding healthy probiotics in the gut.
To date, the obstacle limiting widespread use of tagatose has been its high cost. Bonumose solves the issue through a lower-cost method using non-dairy, plant-based starch, enzymes and a streamlined process that eliminates several complicated steps that inflate the cost of tagatose and allulose for other producers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Bonumose’s unique method. Additionally, Health Canada approved Bonumose’s process, marking the first time tagatose has been approved for sale in Canada. Regulatory submissions are underway and planned in all major markets worldwide.
Bonumose will launch tagatose production and sales in the first half 2022 with ASR Group, the world’s largest cane sugar refiner and marketer. ASR Group is Bonumose’s exclusive distribution partner in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Western Europe. ASR Group’s customers have successfully tested tagatose in formulations to meet reduction targets without sacrificing taste or function.
“Tagatose has performed extremely well for our customers across a wide variety of applications, and they are enthusiastic about having an affordable supply of tagatose available to them soon,” said Jim Kappas, ASR Group’s Vice President of Specialty Ingredients. “Using these insights, we forecast demand may already outstrip the production capacity at Bonumose’s first production plant, and we will likely need to scale up as soon as possible.”