D-Tagatose
a newcomer waiting in the wings

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Whey is the by-product of butter and cheese-making; historically it has had little market value, but that's changing. The best known sugar found in milk is lactose, but milk also contains a tiny amount of a sugar called tagatose.

D-tagatose is made for commercial use by processing lactose. It goes by the name Naturlose, looks and tastes like sugar, and can be used in the same ways. Tagatose is 92% as sweet as sugar but has just one-fourth the calories. Both Pepsi and Kellogg are adding it to a few of their diet/reduced calorie products. Food companies have begun to blend sweeteners of all types because they often find that this will yield a more desirable taste and/or will save them money. This practice could make it increasingly difficult for the consumer who wants to avoid certain ingredients.