Xlear launches xylitol-based 'healthy' candy

Xlear, the Utah-based manufacturer of xylitol-based products, is set move into the confectionery market with the launch of Fine and Dandy Candy.

The move underlines the growing market for sugar-free candy, and illustrates how growing concerns for health have begun to penetrate the confectionery market.

Xlear president Nathan Jones said that the firm's new product line is "just what health conscious people have been craving - a sweet, healthy treat that does not taste like a diet snack".

Xlear is hoping its new product line will appeal to health conscious adults and children alike, who will be drawn in by a healthy alternative to other confectionery products.

Xylitol is also thought to have positive affects for dental hygiene. Xlear, which was founded in 2000, claims that Fine and Dandy Candy can therefore help fight against bacteria that form plaque on teeth.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is claimed to have natural health benefits, making it arguably a healthier alternative to sugar. It is similar to sugar in both taste and texture, and is derived from corncobs, birch trees and other natural sources.

Xylitol belongs to the polyol family of sugar alcohols found in a host of fruits and vegetables.

Three different flavours will be sold in small tubes under the name of SparX.

Recognized as one of the largest importers of xylitol in the United States and as a leading manufacturer of xylitol products, Xlear has focused on making 'health enhancing products' and has established a wide distribution network.

If consumers take to the product it could prove a massive success, with confectionery lovers increasingly favouring healthier options without disrupting their normal diets.