About
Sulphurless traditional mishri is large-crystal rock sugar (sucrose) produced by slow crystallisation of sugarcane juice or refined sugar syrup without the use of sulphur dioxide as a bleaching or preserving agent. It is used as a sweetener in Indian cuisine, Ayurvedic preparations, and mouth-fresheners, and is distinguished from sulphur-treated mishri by its natural off-white or amber hue.
Safety summary
As essentially pure sucrose, mishri carries the same risks as any added free sugar: dental caries, contribution to excess caloric intake, and glycaemic load concerns, particularly for persons with insulin resistance or diabetes. No chemical additive hazard is associated with the sulphurless variant specifically; the WHO and EFSA both flag excess free sugar intake as a risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. No Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is established for sucrose itself as it is a normal food constituent, but WHO recommends limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Sucrose is a normal food constituent and not subject to an E-number or ADI in EU food additive law. EFSA reviewed dietary sugars comprehensively; while excess intake is linked to health risks, no tolerable upper intake level (UL) has been formally set for sucrose. Rock candy/mishri as pure sucrose is lawfully sold in EU markets as a food.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Sugar is a Class I preservative under FSS Regulations; addition of Class I preservatives in any food is not restricted. Sulphurless mishri contains no sulphur dioxide (INS 220) or sodium metabisulphite (INS 223), both of which are regulated Class II additives under the same framework.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Sucrose is affirmed as Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) under 21 CFR §184.1854. Sulphurless rock candy sugar would fall under this GRAS status as an unmodified sucrose product with no chemical processing aids.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1PubMed. A comparative study of the word sugar and of its equivalents in Hindustani as traceable to Chinese. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2EFSA. Sugar consumption and health problems — EFSA overview, 2022. efsa.europa.eu
- 3FSSAI. Food Additives — Class I and Class II Preservatives under FSS Regulations 2011, 2015. fssai.gov.in
- 4WHO. Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children, 2015. who.int
- 5FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 — Chapter 2.8: Sweetening Agents including Honey, 2011. fssai.gov.in
