Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a beloved chocolate and peanut butter candy treat enjoyed by many. In recent years, Hershey’s has introduced a zero sugar version of these classic candies to appeal to health-conscious consumers who want to reduce their sugar intake. But how exactly does the company remove the sugar while maintaining the iconic Reese’s taste? The key lies in alternative non-nutritive sweeteners.
The Rise of Zero Sugar Candy
As rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health conditions related to excess sugar consumption have risen, many companies in the food industry have introduced zero sugar or low sugar versions of popular products. Candy is no exception to this trend. With consumers seeking to satisfy their sweet tooth without all the calories and blood sugar spikes, companies have reformulated classic candies using non-nutritive sweeteners in place of sugar. Reese’s zero sugar peanut butter cups allow peanut butter and chocolate fans to enjoy the treat they love while limiting sugar.
Why Sugar is Removed from Zero Sugar Candy
There are a few key reasons why candy brands make zero sugar or low sugar varieties:
- Appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking to reduce sugar intake
- Provide options for people with diabetes or prediabetes who need to limit sugars
- Extend brand reach to attract consumers avoiding sugar for wellness reasons
- Adapt to shifting consumer preferences and nutrition concerns around excess sugar
While small amounts of sugar occur naturally in ingredients like cocoa and peanut butter, candy products have typically added large amounts of sugar to enhance flavor and texture. Zero sugar candies remove this added sugar.
What Sweeteners Replace Sugar in Reese’s Zero Sugar?
When Hershey reformulated Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to create a zero sugar product, they replaced the sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners. Let’s take a look at what specific sweeteners are used.
1. Erythritol
One of the main non-nutritive sweeteners used in Reese’s Zero Sugar is erythritol. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that occurs naturally in some fruits and fermented foods. However, the erythritol used in foods is commercially produced. It provides about 70% of the sweetness of sugar but with 95% fewer calories. Erythritol has been approved for use as a food additive in the U.S. and elsewhere. It adds sweetness without spiking blood sugar.
2. Stevia Leaf Extract
In addition to erythritol, Reese’s Zero Sugar also contains stevia leaf extract as a non-nutritive sweetener. Stevia is a natural, zero calorie sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant. The sweet tasting compounds called steviol glycosides are extracted and purified to create stevia sweeteners. Stevia provides additional sweetness to balance out any aftertaste from the erythritol.
3. Natural Flavors
The full sweetener blend in Reese’s Zero Sugar includes some natural flavors. These proprietary natural flavors likely enhance the sweetness profile. Natural flavors can come from plant or animal sources. While their exact identity is often kept secret, they allow candy makers to achieve the expected sweet flavor without sugar.
How Does Reese’s Maintain Flavor Without Sugar?
When you bite into a Reese’s Zero Sugar cup, it remarkably tastes quite similar to the original high sugar version. Maintaining this taste and texture without the bulk sweetness of sugar is a complex feat of food science. Here are some ways Reese’s accomplishes this:
Careful Sweetener Blending
By using a blend of multiple non-nutritive sweeteners, each with a different sweetness profile, Reese’s can closely mimic the taste of sugar’s sweetness. No single sweetener perfectly replicates sugar’s flavor and mouthfeel. Blending erythritol and stevia creates a complete sweetness experience closer to sugar than either sweetener alone. The additions of natural flavors and cocoa powder also help provide a brown sugar-like taste.
Retaining Key Ingredients
While the sugar is removed in Reese’s Zero Sugar, the candies keep the core ingredients that give Reese’s its beloved flavor: roasted peanuts, peanut butter, cocoa, milk, and butter. Keeping the key components of the chocolate and peanut butter largely intact helps preserve the recognizable Reese’s taste.
Adjusting Texture
Sugar not only provides sweetness but also impacts the texture of candy. Without sugar’s bulk, Reese’s has to adjust the rest of the formula with ingredients like tapioca starch, palm oil, and soy lecithin to achieve the proper chewy, creamy texture in each candy layer.
Cocoa Powder for Chocolate Flavor
To give the chocolate layers rich flavor without sugar, Reese’s Zero Sugar relies more heavily on cocoa powder. Extra cocoa powder helps provide intense chocolate taste to balance the reduced sweetness.
Nutrition Profile of Reese’s Zero Sugar
So without all the sugar, what are the nutrition facts on Reese’s Zero Sugar? Let’s compare the stats to the original high sugar Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Calories and Fat
Reese’s Zero Sugar cups have around 100 calories per cup. This is about 15% less than the 120 calories in regular Reese’s cups. Both versions get most calories from fat since peanut butter and chocolate are high fat foods. So the zero sugar cups are moderately lower in calories but still have 9 grams of fat per serving.
Carbohydrates and Fiber
The biggest difference is in the carbohydrate content. Regular Reese’s have 18 grams of carbs, almost all as sugar. Reese’s Zero Sugar has just 5 grams of total carbs and only 1 gram as sugar. The zero sugar cups also add 2 grams of dietary fiber. So carbohydrate content is significantly reduced.
Sugar Alcohols
Instead of sugar, Reese’s Zero Sugar contains sugar alcohols like erythritol that provide sweetness without digestible carbohydrates. Consuming these sugar alcohols may cause digestive side effects like gas or bloating in some people when eaten in excess.
Sodium and Protein
Levels of sodium and protein are similar between both versions of Reese’s. Each peanut butter cup has around 60 milligrams sodium and 2 grams protein.
| Nutrition Facts | Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Regular) | Reese’s Zero Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 120 | 100 |
| Fat (g) | 7 | 9 |
| Carbs (g) | 18 | 5 |
| Sugar (g) | 18 | 1 |
| Fiber (g) | 1 | 2 |
| Sodium (mg) | 65 | 60 |
| Protein (g) | 2 | 2 |
Health Benefits of Choosing Zero Sugar
So does opting for the Reese’s Zero Sugar version provide any health advantages? Let’s look at some of the potential benefits.
Less Sugar and Calories
With only 1 gram of sugar compared to 18 grams in the original, the zero sugar version has significant less sugar. This difference equates to 70 less calories per serving. Consuming less added sugar is beneficial for controlling blood sugar, insulin levels, weight management, dental health, and more.
May Help Reduce Sugar Cravings
Satisfying sweet cravings with a low sugar candy alternative could potentially help reduce urges to binge on high sugar foods. More research is needed, but having sweet options with minimal sugar may benefit behavior change.
Provides More Fiber
Reese’s Zero Sugar offers 2 grams of fiber per serving compared to just 1 gram in regular Reese’s. Fiber slows digestion, promotes gut health, improves cholesterol levels, and aids laxation. Most Americans fall short on daily fiber needs so more is generally beneficial.
Suitable for Diabetic Diets
With very little impact on blood sugar levels, Reese’s Zero Sugar is appropriate for people with diabetes. It provides a sweet indulgence that fits into a healthy diabetic diet when consumed in moderation as part of a well-balanced eating pattern.
Downsides of Zero Sugar Candy
However, there are also some potential downsides of zero sugar candies to consider:
May Increase Overall Sweet Food Intake
Having zero sugar candy options could potentially enable overconsumption of other sweet foods and lead to poor quality diet overall. More research on dietary behaviors is needed.
GI Issues from Sugar Alcohols
Some sugar alcohols like erythritol can cause digestive discomfort like gas, bloating or diarrhea when eaten in large amounts, especially for those sensitive. GI symptoms may limit ability to overindulge.
Lingering Sweet Cravings
Artificial sweeteners don’t activate taste receptors in the same way as sugar. Some research finds they may increase desire for intensely sweet foods and make it harder to enjoy less sweet foods.
May Still Trigger Addiction Pathways
Animal studies suggest that non-nutritive sweeteners may still trigger neurochemical responses similar to sugar and other addictive substances. More human research is needed.
The Bottom Line
Reese’s Zero Sugar allows peanut butter and chocolate lovers to enjoy the classic candy flavor with far less sugar than the original version. By blending erythritol, stevia, and natural flavors, Hershey’s has created a product that mimics the sweet taste of sugar with only 1 gram per serving and just 100 calories.
Opting for the zero sugar alternative can reduce sugar and carb intake for better blood sugar control and other potential health benefits. However, these non-nutritive sweeteners may also have some drawbacks to consider. Overall, Reese’s Zero Sugar makes an occasional sweet treat option for those looking to reduce added sugars in their diet. Moderation is key, as with any candy.
