How Is Fructose Formed?

Fructose is a common sweetener manufactured using a number of processes.

Fructose is a molecular compound commonly used as a food sweetener. Different forms of fructose exist, like crystalline fructose and high fructose corn syrup, and the formation process for each type is different.

Natural Fructose

Fructose is a fruit sugar that forms naturally in a number of fruits. It is also one of the primary carbohydrate constituents of honey. Fructose combines with glucose, another carbohydrate compound, to form sucrose, or table sugar.

Crystalline Fructose

Crystalline fructose is a manufactured form of the compound, formed by extracting cornstarch from corn kernels. The glucose enzymes obtained from this process are altered to produce pure crystallized fructose. The sweetener is then dried, milled and packaged for sale.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup, a common sweetener found in processed foods, comes from cornstarch. Processing plants remove the starch from corn kernels, add multiple enzymes and magnesium to the substance and then use carbon filtration systems to form this syrup.

References

• Scientific Psychic: Carbohydrates - Chemical Structure
• Elmhurst College: Sucrose
• Fructose: Facts about Fructose
• Sweet Surprise: Sweetener Manufacturing Process