Does "sugar-free" really mean "without sugar?" Consumer advocates clarify
Created: 04/01/2023 16:31
By: Stella Henrich
Enjoy sweets, live healthy and keep your body weight under control thanks to sugar-free products.
"No added sugar" does not mean sugar-free.
Consumer advocates clarify.
Even if "sugar" isn't even on the list of ingredients, it can still contain a lot of sugar: Glucose syrup, fructose, whey powder, fruit juice or honey all contribute to the sugar content.
The large number of names for sweetening ingredients makes it difficult to find out about the sugar content.
"Sugar-free" and "no added sugar" are defined by law.
But messages like “less sweet”, “sweet only from fruit” or “naturally sweet” say nothing about the true sugar content.
Munich - They usually catch the eye as advertising additives on product packaging: "No added sugar" probably leads most consumers to believe that the product is not sweet at all.
But that's not true at all, according to consumer advocates.
Anyone who buys food labeled "no added sugar" should not assume that these products are sugar-free.
The Bavarian consumer
advice center is now pointing this
out.
Consumers are often misled by advertising promises.
(symbol image) © imago
The advertising statement "no added sugar" on products such as confectionery, ice cream, desserts or muesli only means that no so-called single or double sugars were added during processing.
These include glucose, fructose and table sugar.
The ban also includes the addition of sweetening foods such as honey, thick juice or syrup, explains Silke Noll, nutrition expert at the consumer center.
Sweet 101: The addition of sweetener is okay
However, according to the European “Health Claims” regulation, the addition of sweeteners such as sugar alcohols or sweeteners is permitted.
A food can also be naturally sweet, such as fruit juices or smoothies.
You may also advertise with the statement "no added sugar".
Advertising claims with less sugar: | And their meaning: |
low sugar | In the product, a maximum of 5 g of sugar per 100 g is permitted for solid products or 2.5 g per 100 ml for liquid products. |
sugar free | Product does not have to be completely sugar-free. A maximum residual sugar content of 0.5 g per 100 g or 100 ml is permitted by law. |
reduced sugar | Reduction of the sugar content by 30 percent compared to other foods of the same kind. However, the energy content of the product must be the same or lower than that of the comparison product. |
no added sugar | Neither single nor double sugars or other ingredients used because of their sweetening effect may be added to the product. No added sugar does not mean that it contains no sugar. |
Source:
Consumer Center Bavaria
So that nobody feels deceived by the statement "no added sugar", the EU regulation also recommends the additional note "
contains natural
sugar" in such cases .
However, this information is not obligatory for the manufacturer.
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Sweet 101: Misleading messages on manufacturers' packaging
In addition to the legally regulated advertising statements, there are often other messages on the packaging of food that can sometimes be misleading.
Consumer advocates cite examples such as "less sweet", "with glucose" or "sweetness only from fruit", which consumers should not miss when checking the list of ingredients.
Other terms of the sweet 101 are:
With (natural) fruit
sweetener does not mean that the food does not contain any sugar or sugary ingredients or that it is particularly natural.
Sugar extract from grapes
does not mean that a particularly healthy sugar has been used.
Sweetness only from fruit
and
naturally sweet
does not mean unsweetened.
Less sweet
does not mean that less sugar has been processed.
Sweetened with stevia
does not mean that the stevia plant was used.
Only the addition of the sweetener steviol glycoside, which is obtained chemically from the sweet ingredients of the stevia leaves, is permitted.
Without the addition of sweeteners
does not mean that no sugar or other sweetening ingredients have been used, only that there are no sweeteners or sugar substitutes in the product - however, sugar is allowed.
With glucose
does not mean healthier.
Due to the lower sweetening power of dextrose, even more sugar may be needed.
The consumer advocates from Bavaria advise consumers not to be dazzled by a pretty presentation or promising advertising.
The best thing, however, is to note the sugar content in the nutritional information table on the packaging and to search the list of ingredients for the different terms for sugar and sweetening ingredients.
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