A detailed look at Huel's sweetener choices
Huel, a popular vegan meal replacement brand, utilizes different sweeteners across its diverse product range to cater to varied customer preferences and nutritional needs. The brand is transparent about its ingredients, highlighting which products contain artificial sweeteners like sucralose and which use natural options such as stevia and organic coconut sugar. Understanding these distinctions is key for consumers managing their sugar intake or with specific ingredient sensitivities.
The role of sucralose in Huel products
For many of its flavoured products, Huel includes sucralose, a non-nutritive, artificial sweetener. Sucralose, commonly known by the brand name Splenda, is derived from sugar and is approximately 600 times sweeter than sucrose. The vast majority of sucralose consumed is not absorbed by the body, making it a zero-calorie option for achieving a sweet taste. Huel uses sucralose in a variety of its flavoured powdered products and its standard Ready-to-drink meals.
- Flavor Profile: Sucralose is favoured for its clean, sugar-like taste with no unpleasant aftertaste, which helps create the desired flavor in Huel products.
- Stability: It is highly stable, which makes it an excellent choice for commercially manufactured products that require a long shelf life and consistent taste profile.
- Usage Levels: Huel confirms that the amount of sucralose used is minimal and falls well below government-regulated limits for acceptable daily intake.
The natural alternative: Stevia and coconut sugar
In response to customer feedback and to offer products free from artificial sweeteners, Huel developed alternative formulations. Huel Black Edition is a notable example, where artificial sweeteners are replaced with a combination of stevia and a small amount of organic coconut sugar.
- Stevia: This is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It is 200–400 times sweeter than sugar and provides a clean sweetness without contributing calories.
- Organic Coconut Sugar: A small amount is added to Huel Black Edition, complementing the stevia and creating a more balanced and subtle sweet flavour. This ingredient is used in minimal quantities to keep the overall sugar content low.
Unflavoured and unsweetened options
For those who prefer to avoid all added sweeteners, Huel offers Unflavoured & Unsweetened versions of its Powder product lines. This allows users to add their own flavourings and sweeteners, or simply enjoy the natural taste of the core ingredients, which include oats, peas, rice, and flaxseed. This option provides the most control over the product's taste and sugar content.
Comparison of Huel's Sweetener Options
| Feature | Flavoured Powder & Ready-to-drink | Huel Black Edition | Unflavoured & Unsweetened Powder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Sweetener | Sucralose | Stevia & Organic Coconut Sugar | None (no added sweetener) |
| Sweetener Type | Artificial, non-nutritive | Natural, with some added sugar | N/A |
| Key Benefit | Consistent, clean sweet taste | No artificial sweeteners | Complete control over flavor |
| Target User | Enjoys sweet flavors with no calories from sweetener | Prefers naturally-sourced sweeteners and low sugar | Wishes to avoid all added sweeteners and sugar |
Sweeteners in other Huel products
Huel's product development also extends to other items like protein bars, which may feature different sweeteners. For instance, the Complete Nutrition Bar includes sweeteners like maltitol. Given the brand's continuous innovation, it is always recommended to check the ingredients list on the specific product packaging to confirm the sweetener profile.
Conclusion: Choosing your Huel
The question of "what sweetener is in Huel" does not have a single answer, as the company uses different ingredients depending on the product line. For most flavored powders and Ready-to-drink products, the artificial sweetener sucralose is used. In contrast, Huel Black Edition caters to those seeking natural alternatives by using stevia and a small amount of coconut sugar. The Unflavoured & Unsweetened powders are an excellent choice for anyone who prefers to avoid added sweeteners entirely. This tiered approach allows Huel to accommodate a broad range of tastes and dietary considerations, ensuring that customers can select a product that aligns with their personal preferences for sweetness, calorie content, and ingredient sourcing.
