Tip of the Day
Where’s the Sugar?
Food labels can be confusing when it comes to sugar. A food can be labeled “sugar free” or “sugarless” and still contain calories from sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol.
To limit added sugars, as called for in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, read the food label’s ingredient list. Look for the following terms on ingredient lists. They all mean the same thing—sugar:
- Brown sugar
- Corn sweetener
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Fructose
- Fruit juice concentrate
- Glucose
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Honey
- Invert sugar
- Lactose
- Maltose
- Malt syrup
- Molasses
- Raw sugar
- Sucrose
- Syrup
For more information on how to read food labels, visit the Nutrition Facts Panel section.