Sugar-free sweetener: Candy, chocolates, jams, and other sugar-free foods.
Maltitol, a sugar alcohol, is made by hydrogenating maltose, which is obtained from corn syrup. (Unlike hydrogenated oils, no trans fat forms when maltose is hydrogenated.) Like other sugar alcohols, maltitol is not absorbed well by the body (which means it has only about half as many calories as sugar), and it does not promote tooth decay. However, large amounts (above 20 to 30 grams) may have a laxative effect.