Added Sugars

Sugars are a type of carbohydrate that occurs naturally or that is added to a food.

Foods such as milk and fruits have naturally occurring sugars. The sugar in fruit is called fructose. The sugar in milk and yogurt is called lactose.

Added sugars are those that do not occur naturally in a food or drink but are added during processing or preparation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans strongly recommend you limit foods and drinks that contain added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends that children and teens have less than 6 teaspoons of added sugars a day and drink no more than 8 ounces of sugary beverages a week.

For example, there are 8 to 9 teaspoons of added sugars in a 12-ounce can of soda, and about 8 teaspoons of added sugar in some snack bars.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture (2015). 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 8th ed. http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/. Accessed January 12, 2016.

Vos MB, et al. (2016). Added sugars and cardiovascular disease risk in children: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 134:00-00. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000439. Accessed August 30, 2016.