True sugar-free ice cream: The availability of ultra-filtered milks, including milk protein isolates (>90% total milk protein and <1% lactose), can be used in combination with polyglycitols and other novel bulking agents to create new categories such as true sugar-free (<0.5g “sugars” per serving) ice cream. These sugar-free products may or may not need high-intensity sweeteners. The product would, by definition, be inherently lactose-free as well.
Novel combinations of sweeteners: Of interest might be the use of high-intensity sweeteners and sugar alcohols in regular ice cream products. There is no reason why sugar alcohols and/or high-intensity sweeteners could not be used in combination with more traditional sweeteners.
Novel use of high-intensity sweeteners: Use of high-intensity sweeteners has evolved beyond simple single-sweetener applications to the use of blends of one or more high-intensity sweeteners. Blends allow use at levels well below the threshold of disagreeable aftertastes or prolonged sweetness perception of each individual high-intensity sweetener. Further, with care, blends often can offer synergistic opportunities that allow use of levels well below calculated theoretical sweetness, further reducing use rates. Use of novel new bulking agents, such as digestion-resistant maltodextrins, can improve both functionality of the ice cream mix and create a more true “sucrose-like” eating experience.
Novel applications of bulking agents: To complement any novel sweetener application, selection of an appropriate bulking agent will be necessary. There is no reason to assume that bulking agents such as high-maltose corn syrups, polyglycitols, digestion-resistant maltodextrins, polydextrose, etc., could not be used in more classical ice cream formulas.
Sugar alcohols: Sugar alcohols have been used successfully in no-sugar-added ice creams for years. It is quite possible to consider new, novel sugar alcohols not only in no-sugar-added formulas, but also in true sugar-free and regular ice creams.
Low-glycemic opportunities: Sucrose or sucrose/corn syrup-sweetened ice creams can have surprisingly low glycemic indexes (~60 versus glucose=100). This is due to the composition, structure and mastication of ice cream, reducing its overall rate of digestion. Thus, it would be expected that exchange of low- or ultra-low-glycemic indexed ingredients for more classical ingredients and formula modifications to leverage effects of protein and fat on digestion rates could drive the glycemic indexes even lower.
Reduced-calorie opportunities: A goal always has been to formulate ice cream and related products to caloric levels significantly below what is currently available. Achieving caloric levels in ice cream compatible with a “low-calorie” (<40 calories per serving) claim has been a real challenge of chemistry and physics. Being able to achieve low caloric levels and maintain an ice cream's ability to entrap and hold unusually high levels of air (i.e., overrun) during manufacturing, storage and distribution is daunting. However, there seems to be a rush of new, novel sweeteners with limited digestibility and, thus, lower caloric values that could be used to create ice cream products with caloric levels at or near 40 calories per 4-fl oz serving. Certainly, caloric levels used well below current commercial products should be attainable.
For in-depth coverage on the effects of the proposed changes in the ice cream standards, including ingredient selection, formulation approaches, quality management, economics, and other considerations, plan to join us at the Tharp & Young on Ice Cream Short Course, Workshops and Clinics to be presented in Las Vegas Nov. 29 through Dec. 1. See www.onicecream.com for complete information.
