Introduction to Hidden Sugars

Learn about the hidden sugars in food and how it may impact our health. Supporting research from major health organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Center for Science in the Public Interest, American Diabetes Association (ADA), Healthy Children.org, John Hopkins School of Public Health, and the Food and Drug Association (FDA) suggests reducing caloric intake from added sugars.¹⁰ This course will examine the truth about hidden sugars, associated health risks, and how to choose healthier alternatives.

We are aware of the added sugars in ultra-processed foods such as soda and sports drinks, baked goods, and snack foods. But did you know your salad dressing, soup, bread, pasta sauce, and yogurt may contain added sugars? Even foods marketed as “healthy” may have additional sugars added to the product. Manufactures are required to include added sugars in the ingredient list, based on weight. But they often disguise these names to “camouflage” the amount of sugar in their product. In fact, there are over 61 different names of added sugars on a food label.⁹ The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires manufactures to use the nutrition label template that includes a line for “added sugars.” This will help consumers distinguish between sugars that are naturally occurring in foods, like lactose in milk and fructose in fruit verses “evaporated cane juice” in flavored yogurt.