Sugars & Sweeteners
IMO 900 + Thaumatin (Moonsugar) in gelato
Moonsugar is a branded 1:1 sugar-replacement blend built on isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO) bulk, sweetness-corrected with thaumatin and steviol glycosides. In gelato it supplies carbohydrate solids and body with moderate freezing-point depression, letting you cut added sugar while holding structure and near-sucrose sweetness.
Balancing parameters
Per 100 g of product, verified against independent food-science sources (listed below).
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Solids | 99% |
| Water | 1% |
| Sugars | 98% |
| Fat | 0% |
| MSNF | 0% |
| Protein | 0% |
| POD (sweetening power) | 80 |
| PAC (anti-freezing power) | 80 |
Typical use: 5-15% of the total mix (replacing part of the sugar phase); keep total added oligosaccharide moderate to avoid gumminess and digestive tolerance issues.
Balance imo 900 + thaumatin (moonsugar) in a real recipe
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Open the balancerHow to use it in gelato
Use IMO+thaumatin as a partial sugar-phase replacement in low-sugar, no-added-sugar, or high-fiber gelato. As an oligosaccharide its freezing-point depression per gram is only about 0.8 that of sucrose, so swapping sugar for it firms the mix and reduces meltdown resistance loss; unlike dextrose it does not over-soften. The thaumatin/stevia component restores sweetness (POD ~80) without the full sugar load or glycemic impact. Because PAC is lower than the sweetness suggests, offset any hardness by adding a small dose of dextrose, invert, or alcohol. Overuse can read gummy and may cause GI intolerance.
Origin & background
Isomaltooligosaccharides were first industrialized as prebiotic sweeteners in Japan in the late 1980s, produced by enzymatically transglucosylating starch hydrolysates. IMO is widely marketed as a fiber-like sweetener, but in 2018 the U.S. FDA denied BioNeutra's petition to classify IMO as a dietary fiber, ruling it did not meet the non-digestibility requirement. Moonsugar pairs a tapioca-derived IMO base with thaumatin and stevia.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isomaltooligosaccharide
- https://www.saigaonutri.com/products/isomalto-oligosaccharide-900-powder/
- https://www.ahelite.com/Isomaltooligosaccharide-IMO900-Powder-IMO-Tapioca-Powder-pd632734.html
- https://moonmilk.us/products/moon-sugar-less
- https://icecreamcalc.com/2020/07/24/freezing-point-depression/
- https://berganochem.com/product/food-additives/food-grade-sweeteners/isomaltooligosaccharide-imo-900-cas499-40-1/