# Sugar-free barfi dies from missing sugar

> A sugar-free barfi crumbles after a recipe with a hole in it.
- Title: Sugar-free barfi dies from missing sugar · Indiatoday
- Summary: A sugar-free barfi crumbles after a recipe with a hole in it. A court ruled a sugar-free barfi died because its recipe lacked sugar's five roles…
- Keywords: sugar-free barfi, recipe, coroner, sweetener, fibre, sugar alcohol, barfi, mithai, diwali, court, food technologist, india
- Source: Indiatoday — https://indiatoday.in/opinion/story/diwali-sweets-sugar-free-barfi-sweeteners-cannot-replace-sugar-mithai-stevia-3034185-2026-11-07
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sugar-free barfi, recipe, coroner, sweetener, fibre, sugar alcohol, barfi, mithai, diwali, court, food technologist, india
## The dead barfi
A sugar-free barfi was found dead on a Friday at 4 pm two days before Diwali.
## The body
The barfi was sandy to the touch and crumbled when lifted, leaving crumbs and an air of apology.
## The card
A handwritten card beside it read 'sugar-free', the only thing holding it together.
## The suspects
The sweetener, fibre, and sugar alcohol were the suspects in the barfi's death.
## The sweetener
A pinch of stevia, a sweetener hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, was found nearby.
## The problem
Stevia has no bulk, cannot hold water, and cannot manage sugar crystals.
## The coroner's verdict
The coroner said the barfi died of a recipe with a hole in it, missing sugar's five roles.
## The court's solution
The court recommended adding milk solids, nut pastes, pulses, and fibre to the recipe.
## Key takeaway

A court ruled a sugar-free barfi died because its recipe lacked sugar's five roles, recommending milk solids, nut pastes, and fiber instead.