Claimed 'Zero' but Calories Remain?... Some Low-Sugar Ice Creams Actually Like This

[Financial News] Some ice cream products marketed as 'low-sugar' or 'zero' actually have calorie and saturated fat content similar to regular ice cream.
The Korea Consumer Agency recently tested 11 low-sugar and zero ice cream products, which have seen increased demand due to the heat and health trends, and announced on the 24th that the results were as follows.
The products tested included three types: chocolate bars, monaka, and pints, which used alternative sweeteners instead of sugar to reduce sugar content.
The test results showed that in five products labeled 'zero sugar', no sugars were detected, and the remaining six products had sugar levels at 24% (24g) of the daily standard, relatively lower than regular ice cream (18g).


However, some chocolate bar products showed calorie and saturated fat content similar to regular ice cream. The 'Zero Ice Cookie & Cream Bar (Lotte Wellfood)' had 201kcal and up to 10g of saturated fat (67% of the daily standard) per 80ml, with little difference compared to regular ice cream (85ml standard).
The Consumer Agency emphasized the need to be cautious of excessive intake of sugar alcohols (erythritol, maltitol, etc.) used as alternative sweeteners. Sugar alcohols can reach the colon without being digested, causing an imbalance in intestinal microbes. Excessive intake can lead to diarrhea, abdominal bloating, and gas production. Erythritol, one of the sugar alcohols, has 0kcal, is absorbed in the small intestine, and is mostly excreted in urine. Maltitol provides 2.4kcal per gram, with about 40%-50% absorbed in the small intestine and some converted to glucose.
Among the 11 products tested, 10 used sugar alcohols. The 'Zeroit Sugar Zero Vanilla Bar (Pulses, Chocolate Bar)' contained the most sugar alcohols at 16g (19% of the product) per item, while the 'My Normal Vanilla (My Normal Company, Pint)' product was found to contain no sugar alcohols. 
Besides sugar alcohols, low-sugar and zero ice creams also used alternative sweeteners like allulose and sucralose, according to the Consumer Agency.
According to the current 'Food Labeling and Advertising Act Enforcement Rules', products containing more than 10% sugar alcohols must display a warning that excessive consumption may cause diarrhea. All products tested complied with the relevant regulations. Meanwhile, the price per 100ml ranged from 1,286 to 4,118 won, showing up to a 3.2-fold difference. Hygiene and safety tests found all products met standards, with no detection of coliforms or pathogenic microorganisms.
The Korea Consumer Agency stated, "Even if a product is zero or low-sugar, consumers need to check the nutritional information and adjust their intake," adding that "as the use of alternative sweeteners increases, we plan to propose a related consumption survey to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety."

clean@fnnews.com Lee Jeong-hwa Reporter