Sugar often hides under various names on labels, which can mislead consumers. Food manufacturers use many alternative terms to suggest that their products don’t contain sugar, while in reality, it’s present in another form. Here are the most common names for sugar to look out for:
1. Simple Sugars and Disaccharides
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Sucrose
- Lactose
- Maltose
- Dextrose
2. Syrups and Their Derivatives
- Glucose syrup
- Fructose syrup
- Corn syrup (including high-fructose corn syrup, HFCS)
- Maple syrup
- Rice syrup
- Malt syrup
- Date syrup
- Agave syrup
3. Natural Sugars from Fruits and Plants
- Fruit juice (or fruit juice concentrate)
- Agave nectar
- Honey
- Molasses
- Cane syrup
- Cane sugar
4. High-Sugar Alternatives
- Coconut sugar
- Palm sugar
- Beet sugar
- Golden syrup
5. Hidden Forms in Processed Foods
- Maltodextrin
- Inverted sugar
- Carob (locust bean gum)
- Maltol
- Mannitol
6. Ingredients Often Associated with “Healthy” Foods
- Malt extract
- Natural fruit sugar
- Barley malt
- Evaporated cane juice
Why Do Manufacturers Hide Sugar?
Using alternative names helps manufacturers create the impression that their products are healthier. For example, if instead of “sugar” they use “glucose-fructose syrup,” many consumers may not realize it’s the same thing.
How to Spot Sugar in a Product?
- Check the ingredient list – ingredients are listed in descending order by quantity. If any of the above terms appear high on the list, the product contains a lot of sugar.
- Look at the nutritional values – under “Carbohydrates,” check the “of which sugars” section.
- Avoid “light” products – they often contain more sugar to compensate for the lack of fat.
Remember: conscious choices start with reading labels. The shorter and simpler the ingredient list, the better!
Lifestyle for Healthy Feet 
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