Added Sugars

Sugars added during processing

What does Added Sugars do in your body?

Sugars and syrups added to foods and drinks — distinct from sugars naturally in whole fruit and milk.

What does Added Sugars do?

Provides energy (4 kcal/g) and sweetness, browning, texture and preservation.

Where does Added Sugars act in the body?

Mouth (feeds acid-making bacteria), liver (fructose is processed there), blood sugar.

Which foods contain Added Sugars?

Sugary drinks are the largest single source in many diets, then desserts, sweets and sweetened cereals.

How much Added Sugars do adults need?

Dietary Guidelines: under 10% of calories (about 50 g on a 2,000 kcal diet). WHO: under 10% of energy, ideally under 5%. Label Daily Value: 50 g.

What happens with too little Added Sugars?

No requirement.

Can you get too much Added Sugars?

Strongly linked with tooth decay. High intakes, especially from drinks, are associated with weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

What does Added Sugars interact with?

Honey and 'natural' syrups count as added sugars too.

What is known and unknown about Added Sugars?

The tooth-decay link is strong. 'Sugar is toxic' is not an accurate summary — amount and context matter.

Evidence & sources

• WHO recommends reducing free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, with a further reduction below 5% for additional benefits. Evidence: regulatory. Known: Based on evidence for weight gain and dental caries. Unknown: The <5% conditional recommendation rests on lower-quality evidence. Source: World Health Organization, Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children (2015).

Connected topics

• Carbohydrate
• Mouth & Teeth
• Blood Sugar Regulation
• Liver
• Natural ≠ Safe, Synthetic ≠ Harmful

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General education only, not medical advice. Drafted Oct 2026 · pending qualified expert review.