U.S. company ODYSSEY Snacks has announced they will not include erythritol in their products, a sugar alcohol often used as a sweetener in food products. Many of the brand's competitors use erythritol to avoid the calories that come with natural sugar.
This decision follows the National Institutes of Health's recently published study, which found erythritol linked to strokes and heart failure. Erythritol is also known to cause digestive discomforts such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea in some people.
ODYSSEY's decision to abstain from erythritol in its protein bars appeals to growing consumer demands for natural and organic ingredients. To people who seek natural, easy-to-digest protein sources.
The brand launches new protein bars in various flavours, including peanut butter chocolate chip, mint chocolate brownie, and banana chocolate chip peanut butter.
"We were told from the beginning that we needed to use erythritol in our bars to help with sweetness, but I knew about the negative side effects from my gut issues," said ODYSSEY's founder, Doctor Jennifer Marone.
Each protein bar from ODYSSEY contains 13-16 grams of protein, making it an ideal snack for those who want to increase their protein intake. The bars are made with nut butter, dates, and honey, making them an incredibly delicious alternative to artificially sweetened products.
"We know that the body's digestive system more easily recognises natural sugars like dates and honey, and they taste better, so we have decided to keep erythritol and all sugar alcohols away from our protein bars."
Steve Clark, ODYSSEY’s co-founder, stated that consumers are increasingly educating themselves on the benefits of pre and probiotics. Therefore, the brand has created products that protect rather than irritate gut health.
ODYSSEY's new line of protein bars is available at select stores in Utah and Nevada.
