Maltitol is a sugar alcohol. Many sugar free products use sugar alcohols, because they have fewer calories and a lower effect on the blood glucose levels than ordinary table sugar. I have read a source that marked sugar alcohols as a "safe" cal-free alternative to sugar, but they could be wrong, i don't know. I've tried plenty of sugar-free chocolate products, and they are good, especially the chocolate covered caramel. But if you consume them in large quantities, they will give you the runs like no other. So don't eat a whole bag at one sitting, my toilet still hasn't forgiven me