Added Sugars

Added sugars are sugars and syrups added to foods and beverages during processing or preparation — distinct from sugars occurring naturally in fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose). Common forms include table sugar (sucrose), high-fructose corn syrup, honey, and concentrated fruit-juice sweeteners. The largest source in typical diets is sugar-sweetened beverages (soda, energy and sports drinks, sweetened coffees), followed by desserts, candy, and sweetened cereals.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 recommend limiting added sugars to less than 10% of total daily calories for everyone aged 2 and older, and avoiding added sugars entirely for infants and toddlers under 2. On a 2,000 kcal diet, 10% is about 50 g (12 teaspoons) per day. The US Nutrition Facts label now lists "Added Sugars" separately with a % Daily Value, making them easier to spot (see nutrition-labels).

Added sugars provide energy with little nutritional value; high intake displaces nutrient-dense foods and is associated with weight gain, dental caries, and elevated cardiometabolic risk. They are not uniquely fattening calorie-for-calorie, but their concentration in palatable, low-satiety drinks makes overconsumption easy.

• Added sugars = sugars added in processing; exclude natural fruit/milk sugars.
• DGA limit: <10% of total calories (≈50 g/12 tsp on 2,000 kcal).
• No added sugars for children under 2.
• Top source: sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Listed separately on the US Nutrition Facts label.

• carbohydrates — added sugars are simple carbohydrates.
• nutrition-labels — finding added sugars on the label.
• processed-foods — main vehicle for added sugars.
• diabetes-exercise — relevance to glycemic management.