As GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic become more ubiquitous as solutions to everything from obesity to blood sugar issues, it is clear where America is right now: we’re medicating our way out of a nutrition crisis.
But what if there were a molecule that could do what those drugs do naturally — lower blood sugar, curb inflammation, even feed the good bacteria in your gut — all while tasting exactly like sugar?
That’s what my guest, Ed Rogers, CEO of Bonumose, claims Tagatose can do.
“Tagatose isn’t too good to be true — but it’s pretty good”
It looks like sugar. It bakes like sugar. But biologically, it acts more like fiber — and its benefits are backed by clinical studies that rival the results of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, without the side effects.
So why is the FDA still forcing it to be labeled as “added sugar”?
The Sweet Molecule with a PR Problem
Tagatose is a rare sugar found in nature — in apples, pineapples, and dairy — that looks, bakes, and tastes like regular sugar. But unlike sugar, it acts like fiber.
Clinical studies show Tagatose:
* Lowers blood glucose and insulin levels in Type 2 diabetics
* Promotes beneficial gut bacteria and boosts butyrate, improving colon and brain health
* Protects teeth by reducing Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria behind plaque and cavities
* Supports healthy liver function — lowering “bad” cholesterol and inflammation without the metabolic damage linked to fructose
It’s even being studied for autism and Type 1 diabetes prevention due to its role in improving gut microbiome and oxidative stress response.
So why isn’t Tagatose in every product on your grocery shelf?
A Billion-Dollar Labeling Problem
Bonumose won a federal court case last year against the FDA, challenging the agency’s decision to classify Tagatose as an “added sugar” — despite it not raising blood glucose or contributing to cavities.
That labeling, Rogers says, is the main barrier keeping U.S. food companies from adopting it.
“If something shows up on the nutrition label as added sugar,” he told me, “people put it back on the shelf — even if it’s healthier.”
Meanwhile, in countries that classify Tagatose as a low-glycemic sweetener, sales are booming.
Beyond Sugar Substitutes
What makes Tagatose different from sweeteners like erythritol or aspartame isn’t just safety — it’s therapeutic potential.
According to Bonumose’s data, Tagatose’s metabolic effects resemble those of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and SGLT inhibitors, but without the side effects.
It reduces oxidative stress, promotes gut health, and may even complement pharmaceutical treatments — potentially lowering the required doses for those drugs.
“You don’t need to choose between taste and health,” Rogers said. “Tagatose delivers both.”
Why This Matters
Diet-related diseases — diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease — cost the U.S. more than $1 trillion per year.Replacing even 25% of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup with Tagatose could prevent millions of chronic disease cases and save trillions in healthcare costs.
And yet, one line on a nutrition label is keeping it from scaling.
What’s Next
As the FDA re-evaluates its stance post–court ruling, Bonumose continues to manufacture Tagatose in Charlottesville, Virginia — from American corn and potatoes, not imported ingredients — proving that “healthy” can also mean Made in the USA.
If the labeling logjam finally breaks, this story could mark the start of a new American export: a sweetener that’s good for people and for farmers.
📄 Learn more (show notes):
What do you think?
Would you try a “healthy sugar” if it tasted just like the real thing — or do you trust the FDA label more than the science?
#Nutrition #HealthTech #FDA #FoodPolicy #MoneyInTheBankWithFranck
