Erythritol

Erythritol is an organic compound, a four-carbon sugar alcohol with no optical activity, used as a food additive and sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring. It can be made from corn using enzymes and fermentation. Its formula is C
₄H
₁₀O
₄, or HO (CHOH)₂(CH₂)OH; specifically, one particular stereoisomer with that formula.

Erythritol is 60–70% as sweet as sucrose (table sugar). However, erythritol is almost completely noncaloric and does not affect blood sugar or cause tooth decay. Japanese companies pioneered the commercial development of erythritol as a sweetener in the 1990s.