How to Find the Added Sugars

Overview

How do you find added sugars in drinks and foods?

A large amount of added sugar can hide in drinks and foods. It can be hard to see, especially when it’s dissolved in a brightly colored fruit drink or a bottle of soda.

The quickest way to spot that sugar? Ignore the front label and turn the drink around.

Check the label

Look for the Nutrition Facts label. On that label, focus on the line called Includes Added Sugars.

Choose foods and drinks without added sweeteners. To do that, look for the “Includes Added Sugars” line to say 0 grams. Choices include water — sparkling, flavored, or unsweetened — and plain white milk.

The label to the right is for one serving of fat-free plain milk. One serving of plain milk includes 12 grams of natural sugar from the lactose found in milk, but it has no added sugar.

You can also spot added sugar by looking at the ingredients list that is typically near the Nutrition Facts label. 

Names of hidden sugar

Sugar isn’t always called sugar in the ingredients list. Sweeteners that add calories can go by many names:

• High-fructose corn syrup
• Honey
• Agave Nectar
• Brown rice syrup
• Corn syrup
• Malt syrup
• Maple syrup
• Can sugar or juice
• Fructose
• Glucose
• Sucrose
• Fruit juice concentrate

Resources