Added sugar
0 Grams of Added Sugar: The Norm of the Future?
Could zero added sugar become the norm? Explore an editorial perspective on WHO sugar guidance, research on aging, and the economics of reducing sugar.
THE SUGAR BYE GUIDE
Understand the label.
Choose what works for you.
Practical reading for everyday food choices, starting with added sugar and the information on your packaging.
Three places to start on a US food label
- Serving size. Check the amount the numbers describe, then compare it with how much you actually use.
- Total Sugars and Added Sugars. These are different lines. Added sugars are included in total sugars; do not add the two numbers together.
- Ingredients. Read the ingredient list alongside the nutrition table. A number on its own does not tell you everything about a food.
For example, if a hypothetical label lists 8 g total sugars and includes 3 g added sugars per serving, the serving has 8 g total sugars, not 11 g. These are illustrative numbers, not a measurement of a particular product.
When comparing products, use equivalent amounts and consider the rest of the label. A zero for added sugars does not automatically mean the food has no naturally occurring sugars.