Strategies to reduce sugars in food

The most notable function of sugar in food is its sweet taste, but it also contributes to the flavor and texture profiles; it is involved in Maillard reaction, it affects also several food quality properties, from the other hand, the sugar should not represent more than 10% of the daily caloric intake. This review aims to critically illustrate the strategies which could be applied to reduce sugars and their application in specific food categories. Product reformulation by partially or totally sugar replacement is the most studied strategy in the most part of investigated food categories, such as bakery, chocolate, ice-cream and dessert, jams and jellies. However, a gradually reduction of sugar content could be an interesting approach to use in some specific cases. An innovative strategy to reduce sugar content in food is also illustrated and it involves the use of multisensory integration principles.