Glossary
Added Sugar
Definition: Sugars and syrups added to foods or drinks during processing or preparation, as distinct from sugars naturally present in fruit or dairy.
Why it matters
Dietary guidelines generally recommend limiting added sugar specifically, not all sugar — a piece of fruit and a sugar-sweetened drink can have similar total sugar content but very different overall nutritional value.
Example
The sugar in plain yogurt is naturally occurring; the sugar in flavored yogurt with fruit syrup mixed in is partly added sugar.