allulose.supply
Illustration of white sugar crystals in a dark ceramic dish

An Australian ingredient guide

Allulose,
in focus.

A rare sugar. Explore what human studies have found, how ingredient purity is measured and where allulose fits in Australia’s food standards.

Explore the science
Also known as
D-psicose
Energy factor for labelling
2 kJ/g ↗
Australia and New Zealand
Permitted novel food ↘

Science & health

What human studies tell us

D-allulose is a monosaccharide closely related to fructose. For nutrition labels in Australia and New Zealand, the Food Standards Code assigns it an energy factor of 2 kJ per gram. FSANZ risk assessment

Blood glucose findings depend on the study and the timeframe. Small trials testing a single drink have reported mixed results. A 12-week crossover trial in 16 adults with type 2 diabetes found no significant change in glucose regulation or body composition. Noronha et al. Braunstein et al. Preechasuk et al.

Digestive tolerance varies with the amount consumed. A small study reported more diarrhoea, bloating and abdominal pain at higher single doses. Han et al.

Ingredient purity

Read the batch data

Crystalline allulose and allulose syrups have different compositions. Ask for the product specification and a certificate of analysis for the lot you’re evaluating. Check whether the assay is expressed on a dry-weight or as-sold basis. Water in a syrup makes that distinction important. FSANZ technical assessment, Table 2

  • D-allulose assay and test method
  • Moisture or total solids, plus other sugars
  • Lot identification, origin and traceability
  • Relevant microbiological and contaminant results

History

From the lab to food standards

  1. German chemists described D-psicose and proposed its name in the chemistry literature. Ohle and Just

  2. Researchers in Japan published a method for making D-psicose from fructose using an enzyme. Itoh et al.

  3. A Japanese research team measured small amounts of psicose in several foods and investigated how heating can form it in foods containing sugar. Oshima et al.

  4. Australia and New Zealand listed D-allulose in the Food Standards Code as a permitted novel food with conditions. FSANZ gazette

Australian food standards

Permission depends on use

The Code permits D-allulose itself for retail sale as a tabletop sweetener. When added to other foods, it is limited to the categories and maximum levels listed in Schedule 25. Schedule 25

Certain foods with added D-allulose, including bakery products and yoghurt, require a labelling statement about the possible laxative effect of excess consumption. Standard 1.2.3

The permitted processing aid, finished formulation and label each need to be checked for the intended product. Schedule 18 Standard 1.2.7

Contact

Send an enquiry

Get in touch about ingredient specifications or a potential food application.