We discuss the nutritional characteristics and health implications of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners. The role of traditional sweeteners, which are often overlooked in the debate about sugars and health, is emphasised.

Highlights

•Excessive sugar consumption is considered a public health concern.

•The assumed role of non-nutritive sweeteners in aiding weight loss is unproven.

•Traditional sweeteners contain phytochemicals of nutritional interest.

•Future sweetener use will be driven by the needs of an increasingly obese society.

Read the full paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224415301539?via=ihub