Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) also sometimes called oligofructose or oligofructan, are oligosaccharide fructans, used as an alternative sweetener. FOS exhibits sweetness levels between 30 and 50 percent of sugar in commercially prepared syrups.[unreliable source?][1] It occurs naturally, and its commercial use emerged in the 1980s in response to demand for healthier and calorie-reduced foods.