This $561,306 federal Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) CFDA 10.310 program will fund research at Utah State University (USU) to:
- Evaluate the physical properties of rare sugars like D-psicose, D-tagatose, and isomaltulose,
- Quantify the effect of these rare sugars on chocolate quality, and
- Evaluate their effectiveness in producing candied fruits.
The research aims to improve understanding of these novel ingredients and their potential to provide healthier alternatives in food processing and confectionery products. As a land-grant university, USU will leverage its expertise in agriculture and food sciences to conduct this project over a 4-year period from September 2024 to August 2028. The findings could lead to new tools and applications for the food industry to reduce sugar content and improve consumer health.
Generated 1/28/25, 9:22 AM