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NEOHESPERIDINE DIHYDROCHALCONE (NHDC)

INTRODUCTION
    Both peel and pulp from citrus contain high amounts of flavonoids, including:
    - Hesperidine: used as raw material for pharmaceutical products, i.e. in the manufacture of Diosmine.
    - Naringin: used to give a bitter taste to beverages, etc.
    - Neohesperidine: the main flavonoid present in bitter oranges and is employed as the raw material in the manufacture of the sweetener NHP-DC.
    NHDC was first obtained by Horowitz and Gentili around 30 years ago, although it was not widely accepted by the Food Industry because of inadequate applications and uses.
    This sweetener has not been found in nature as yet, although many dihydrochalcones with similar structure to NHDC are present, some of which have been used as natural sweeteners.
APPLICATIONS OF NHDC ARE AS FOLLOWS
    NHDC is used mainly to sweeten diet and low-calorie food.
    NHDC is approximately 1500-1800 times sweeter than sucrose (common sugar) at threshold limit concentration but the intensity depends on many factors such as pH and the product to which it is added. The organoleptic profile of the product can be described as having a short delay to reach maximum sweetness perception and a very light sweet menthol or liquorice-like aftertaste.
    A very important characteristic of NHDC is the synergistic sweetening effect it has when combined with sugar alcohols such as Xylitol, Isomalt, etc. and with other sweeteners such as Aspartame, Acesulfame-K, Saccharin and Cyclamate, i.e. the intensity of sweetness from a mixture, as above, is higher than if only one sweetener were used. This characteristic has many advantages including; reduced cost, reduction in the daily intake of any particular sweetener and also a more satisfactory sucrose-like taste.
Beverages:
juices, milk and derivatives, water based flavoured drinks, alcoholic drinks (beer, etc.).
Desserts and
related products:
chocolate based products, dry fruits, spreads, marmalades, jams, jelly, yoghourt, sweets, chewing-gum, cider, ice-cream, fruit preserves, sauces, bakery, low calorie food.
Savory products:
paté, sauces and condiments, seasonings, mayonnaise, soups, fish and meat preserves. At very low levels (1-5 ppm) it enhances the food flavour.
Cosmetics:
tooth-paste, mouth-wash.
Pharmaceutical products:
NHDC attenuates the bitter taste in drug formulations.
Feedstuffs:
the addition of NHDC improves the feed taste and therefore increases the daily feed intake with reduced feeding time.
The optimum dose of NHDC needs to be determined in each particular case in which the presence of other sweeteners and their synergistic effect has to be taken into consideration. The maximum dose of NHDC in food is registered in EEC Directive 94/35/EEC (OJ nºL 237 of 10.9.1994, p.3).

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DESCRIPTION:
NHDC is obtained by hydrogenation of Neohesperidine.
SYNONYMES:
Hesperetin dihydrochalcone-4'--neohesperidoside, Neohesperidin DC.
 
FORMULA:
C28H36O15 . 4H2O
SPECIFICATIONS:
Appearance:
White, crystalline powder
Odour:
Odourless
Taste:
Very intense sweet
Assay:
min. 96% (on dry weight)
Loss on drying:
max. 11% *
Sulphated ashes:
max. 0.2% (on dry weight)
Arsenic:
max. 3 ppm (on dry weight)
Heavy metals:
max. 10 ppm (as Pb on dry weigt)
(*) NHDC crystallizes with 4 molecules of water forming a tetrahydrate. This corresponds to 10.5% water content.
SOLUBILITY:
The solubility in cool water is 0.4-0.5 g/l but it has high solubility in hot water. It is also soluble, among others, in ethanol, water:ethanol solutions and alkaline water solutions.
STABILITY:
NHDC is very stable in crystalline form and in water solutions making it particularly suitable as a sweetener for beverages. It withstands high temperatures, and retains its characteristics following pasteurization or sterilization processes.
LEGISLATION:
EINECS No:
243-978-6
CEE No:
E-959
FEMA/GRAS:
3811
ADI:
5 mg/Kg. (EC Scientific Committee for Foods (SCF)).
EEC Directive:
94/35/EEC (OJ No. L 237 of 10.9.1994, p.3).
EEC Directive:
95/31/EEC (OJ No. L 178 of 28.7.1995, p.18)
PACKAGING:
In poly-bag lined carton-kraft drums of 1, 5, 10 and 25 Kg.
HANDING:
No special precautions are required. Avoid exposure to dust and when necessary, use protective glasses and dust masks.
STORAGE:
Cool, dry, enclosed, clean storage areas. Away from strong light, odours and material sensitive to tainting. Containers must be closed securely.
SHELL LIFE:
Five years when stored as above.