Workshop: consumption and consumer perceptions.

There is relatively little published information regarding consumer perceptions of the possible health benefits or occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms following consumption of low-digestible carbohydrates (LDCs), in particular polyol sugars. This workshop focused on how consumers perceive the possible health benefits of LDCs, their reactions to any `adverse' symptoms following LDC consumption and how the medical profession, regulatory bodies, health educators and manufacturers might respond. It was also discussed if observations made in the laboratory were indeed relevant to the wider community. Although the workshop mainly discussed polyol sugars compared to other LDCs it was concluded that the functional benefits of LDC consumption far outweighed any intolerance effects and that the majority of consumer reactions and perceptions support this view.