The California Prune Board is championing the use of dried fruit by food manufacturers and commercial bakers as a natural alternative to processed sugar. It follows the publication of a University of Southampton study earlier this year which revealed almost one in four children aged 10 and 11 in England are obese. The study, published in the journal PLOS One, involved the analysis of more than one million children[1].
Using naturally sweet California Prunes as a sugar and even fat replacement in foods can further benefit food manufacturers looking to improve the nutritional profile of products. Prunes have a proven European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim thanks to the fibre they contain, which states eating 100g of prunes daily contributes to normal bowel function. Meanwhile, several studies point to the positive effects prunes can have on bone health, and more recently how they can help reduce abdominal fat and the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, a recent white paper supported by Whitworths also outlines the benefits of nuts, seeds, and dried fruit as a convenient and healthy alternative to high-fat, salt, and sugar snacks and a tasty way to increase fibre and micronutrient intake.
Esther Ritson-Elliott, Director of International Marketing & Communications for the California Prune Board (CPB) says: “The good news is that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of what goes into their food. According to Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition Survey 2023, around 35% of UK respondents avoid sugar because they have read or heard that consuming it is harmful.
“As a good source of fibre and a range of vitamins and minerals and containing only natural sugars, California Prunes present bakers and manufacturers with a functional ingredient that can add sweetness, texture and moisture without compromising on taste.”
Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Jo Travers adds: “Naturally occurring sugars in dried fruits don’t have the same effect on the body’s blood sugar levels that added sugar does, as naturally occurring sugars are bound up in the cell wall of plants, altering the way and rate that the body absorbs the sugar. Once sugar is isolated from the cell walls, however, such as in fruit juice for example, it becomes a free sugar and is then absorbed in a similar way to table sugar.”
Sugar can have a negative impact on health and is associated with chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even cancer, as Jo explains: “Sugar has a big effect on blood glucose levels and abdominal weight gain, which increases the risks of developing common diseases. Adults should have no more than 30g of added sugar and children should have no more than 24g per day.”
Esther concludes: “With rules on high fat, salt and sugar tightening, there is a need to innovate in food production. We welcome opportunities to work with the industry going forward to showcase the versatility of California Prunes as a natural ingredient backed up with the premium characteristics California-origin prunes are known for, from their larger size and concentrated sweetness to provenance and reliability of supply.”
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/24/child-obesity-in-england-still-above-pre-pandemic-levels-study-finds
