Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol (a type of sugar substitute) which has been approved for use in throughout much of the world. It is 70% as sweet as table sugar and excellent-tasting, yet it is virtually non-caloric, does not impact blood sugar, does not cause tooth decay, and is absorbed by the body, therefore unlikely to cause gastric side effects unlike other sugar alcohols. Under U.S. FDA labeling requirements, it has a caloric value of 0.2 calories per gram (95% less than sugar and other carbohydrates), but other countries such as Japan label it at 0 calories.