How many names does sugar have on food labels?

There are over 60 common names for sugar used on food labels, including crystalline sugars, syrups, juice concentrates, and sugar alcohols. This page lists more than 60 of the most common ones.

Is brown rice syrup healthier than sugar?

No. Brown rice syrup has a higher glycemic index than table sugar and provides no meaningful nutritional benefit over other sugars. It is popular in 'health' products because it sounds wholesome, but it is still a concentrated sugar source.

Are sugar alcohols the same as sugar?

Sugar alcohols are not the same as sugar, but they are still sweeteners. They provide fewer calories (about half) and have a lower glycemic impact than sugar. However, they can cause digestive discomfort in large amounts. They are counted separately from 'Added Sugars' on US nutrition labels.

What is the best way to find the total sugar in a product?

Check the 'Added Sugars' line on the nutrition facts panel. This shows the total added sugar in grams regardless of how many different sugar sources are used. The 'Total Sugars' line includes naturally occurring sugars from fruit, dairy, and other ingredients.

Food Labels

Hidden Sugar Names on Food Labels

Sugar goes by more than 60 names on food labels. Manufacturers use this variety to split sugar across multiple entries, pushing each one lower on the ingredient list. This page lists every common sugar alias so you can spot them all — and explains why the 'Added Sugars' line on the nutrition panel is your most reliable tool.

Why Are There So Many Names for Sugar?

Different sugar sources have slightly different flavors, textures, and functional properties in food manufacturing. Brown rice syrup binds granola bars; invert sugar keeps baked goods moist; dextrose ferments quickly in bread. But the variety also serves a labeling purpose: by using five different sugar sources, a manufacturer can list each one separately and keep them all in the middle or bottom of the ingredient list, even if the combined sugar content is high.

Crystalline and Granulated Sugars

These are the most recognizable forms of sugar. Cane sugar, beet sugar, and brown sugar are the most common. Less familiar names like turbinado, demerara, muscovado, and sucanat are minimally processed cane sugars that retain some molasses. Coconut sugar and palm sugar are derived from palm tree sap. Jaggery, panela, and piloncillo are unrefined cane sugars common in South Asian and Latin American cooking. All are nutritionally similar to white sugar.

Syrups

Syrups are liquid sugars. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is the most controversial — it is metabolized differently from sucrose and has been linked to metabolic issues at high consumption levels. Brown rice syrup is popular in 'health' products but has a high glycemic index. Agave syrup is high in fructose. Honey and maple syrup contain trace minerals but are still concentrated sugars. All syrups contribute to the 'Added Sugars' total on the nutrition label.

All Sugar Names on Food Labels

The list below contains 68sugar names and aliases used on food labels. Sort alphabetically or filter by category to find what you're looking for.

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Showing 68 of 68 sugar names

SyrupsAgave nectar
SyrupsAgave syrup
Juice ConcentratesApple juice concentrate
Simple SugarsBarley malt
SyrupsBarley malt syrup
Juice ConcentratesBeet juice concentrate
Crystalline / GranulatedBeet sugar
SyrupsBlackstrap molasses
SyrupsBrown rice syrup
Crystalline / GranulatedBrown sugar
Juice ConcentratesCane juice
Crystalline / GranulatedCane sugar
Simple SugarsCaramel
SyrupsCaramel syrup
SyrupsChicory root syrup
Crystalline / GranulatedCoconut sugar
Juice ConcentratesConcentrated fruit juice
SyrupsCorn syrup
SyrupsCorn syrup solids
Crystalline / GranulatedDate sugar
Crystalline / GranulatedDemerara sugar
Simple SugarsDextrin
Simple SugarsDextrose
Sugar AlcoholsErythritol (E968)
Juice ConcentratesEvaporated cane juice
Simple SugarsFructose
Juice ConcentratesFruit juice concentrate
Simple SugarsGalactose
Simple SugarsGlucose
SyrupsGlucose syrup
SyrupsGlucose-fructose syrup
SyrupsGolden syrup
Juice ConcentratesGrape juice concentrate
SyrupsHigh-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
SyrupsHoney
Sugar AlcoholsHydrogenated starch hydrolysate
Simple SugarsInvert sugar
SyrupsInvert sugar syrup
Sugar AlcoholsIsomalt (E953)
Crystalline / GranulatedJaggery
Sugar AlcoholsLactitol (E966)
Simple SugarsLactose
Simple SugarsMalt
Sugar AlcoholsMaltitol (E965)
Simple SugarsMaltodextrin
Simple SugarsMaltose
Sugar AlcoholsMannitol (E421)
SyrupsMaple syrup
SyrupsMolasses
Crystalline / GranulatedMuscovado sugar
SyrupsOat syrup
Crystalline / GranulatedPalm sugar
Crystalline / GranulatedPanela
Juice ConcentratesPear juice concentrate
Crystalline / GranulatedPiloncillo
Crystalline / GranulatedRapadura
Crystalline / GranulatedRaw sugar
SyrupsRice syrup
Sugar AlcoholsSorbitol (E420)
SyrupsSorghum syrup
Crystalline / GranulatedSucanat
Simple SugarsSucrose
SyrupsTapioca syrup
SyrupsTreacle
Simple SugarsTrehalose
Crystalline / GranulatedTurbinado sugar
Juice ConcentratesWhite grape juice concentrate
Sugar AlcoholsXylitol (E967)

Juice Concentrates

Fruit juice concentrates are made by removing most of the water from fruit juice, leaving a concentrated sugar solution. They are often used in products marketed as 'no added sugar' because the sugar technically comes from fruit. However, the fiber and most of the micronutrients are removed during processing, leaving a product that behaves like added sugar in the body. 'Evaporated cane juice' is another name for cane sugar that sounds more natural.

Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols (polyols) are lower-calorie sweeteners that occur naturally in some fruits but are usually manufactured for food use. They have E-numbers in the 420–968 range. They provide fewer calories than sugar (roughly 2 kcal/g vs 4 kcal/g) and have a lower glycemic impact. However, they can cause digestive discomfort — bloating, gas, and diarrhea — when consumed in large amounts, especially sorbitol and mannitol. Products with more than 10g of sugar alcohols per serving must carry a warning in the EU.

How to Use This List

When reading an ingredient list, scan for any of the names in the sortable list below. If you find three or more sugar aliases in a single product, the total sugar content is likely higher than any single entry suggests. Then check the 'Added Sugars' line on the nutrition facts panel — this is the definitive number regardless of how many sources are used. BioBrief can scan any product and flag all sugar aliases automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many names does sugar have on food labels?: There are over 60 common names for sugar used on food labels, including crystalline sugars, syrups, juice concentrates, and sugar alcohols. This page lists more than 60 of the most common ones.
Is brown rice syrup healthier than sugar?: No. Brown rice syrup has a higher glycemic index than table sugar and provides no meaningful nutritional benefit over other sugars. It is popular in 'health' products because it sounds wholesome, but it is still a concentrated sugar source.
Are sugar alcohols the same as sugar?: Sugar alcohols are not the same as sugar, but they are still sweeteners. They provide fewer calories (about half) and have a lower glycemic impact than sugar. However, they can cause digestive discomfort in large amounts. They are counted separately from 'Added Sugars' on US nutrition labels.
What is the best way to find the total sugar in a product?: Check the 'Added Sugars' line on the nutrition facts panel. This shows the total added sugar in grams regardless of how many different sugar sources are used. The 'Total Sugars' line includes naturally occurring sugars from fruit, dairy, and other ingredients.