Finding the Hidden Sugar

December 8, 2006

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, read the food label’s ingredient list. Look for the following terms on ingredient lists. They add up to one 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
• Table sugar
   

Source: So What Can I Eat?! How to Make Sense of the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Make Them Your Own (Wiley 2006), Elisa Zied, MS, RD with Ruth Winter, MS.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team