What ‘no added sugar’ actually means

The Sweetest Lie in the Supermarket

Walk through a supermarket aisle and you’ll spot it everywhere:

• “No Added Sugar” juices.
  

• “No Added Sugar” biscuits.
  

• “No Added Sugar” energy drinks.
  

It’s one of the most powerful phrases in food marketing because it makes you feel instantly safe: “Oh good, this won’t harm my blood sugar, this won’t make me gain weight.”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: “No Added Sugar” almost never means sugar-free.

👉 It usually means the company didn’t add table sugar - but they added other sweeteners, concentrates, syrups, or high-sugar ingredients that behave the same in your body.

This blog will decode what “No Added Sugar” really means, why it’s misleading, and how to spot the tricks.

Chapter 1: The Technical Definition

By FSSAI and international food law:

• “No added sugar” = the manufacturer didn’t add sucrose (table sugar), glucose, or fructose during processing.
  

But the loophole is wide open:

• They can use fruit juice concentrate.
  

• They can use maltodextrin, corn syrup, jaggery, or honey.
  

• They can use high-calorie ingredients like dates or raisins for sweetness.
  

👉 The result: the product still spikes blood sugar - it just avoids the word “sugar” on the label.

 

Chapter 2: How the Trick Works

Example 1: Fruit Juice

Front label: “No Added Sugar.”

Back label: Water + fruit concentrate + stabilizers.

Reality: Fruit concentrate = concentrated sugar water. One glass has ~25 g sugar - same as cola.

Example 2: Biscuits

Front: “No Added Sugar.”

Back: Wheat flour, palm oil, invert syrup, jaggery.

Reality: Jaggery = sugar in disguise.

Example 3: Energy Bar

Front: “No Added Sugar.”

Back: Dates + raisins + glucose syrup + oats.

Reality: Still 20 g sugar per bar, just from “natural” sources.

Chapter 3: Why It’s Misleading

When people see “No Added Sugar,” they assume:

1. The product is safe for diabetics.
   

2. The product won’t cause weight gain.
   

3. The product is naturally sweet and healthy.
   

But reality is:

• Calories remain the same.
  

• Blood sugar still spikes.
  

• Dental risk still exists.
  

• Diabetics are still at risk.
  

👉 “No added sugar” = marketing comfort, not metabolic truth.

 

Chapter 4: The Natural Sugar Halo

Brands exploit the fact that Indians trust “natural” sweeteners.

• Jaggery: Marketed as “desi and healthy,” but glycemic index higher than sugar.
  

• Honey: Marketed as Ayurvedic, but 80% sugar.
  

• Dates/Raisins: Marketed as natural, but calorie-dense and sugar-heavy.
  
  

So if a biscuit is sweetened with jaggery or dates, it can legally say “No Added Sugar.” But your blood sugar doesn’t care about the label - it still spikes.

 

Chapter 5: The Diabetic Trap

This is the most dangerous part.

• Many diabetics switch to “no added sugar” products thinking they’re safe.
  

• But fruit concentrates, jaggery, and honey still push blood sugar up sharply.
  

• Studies show these “natural” sugars can raise glucose faster than refined sugar.
  

👉 For diabetics, “no added sugar” often means false hope.

 

Chapter 6: How to Decode “No Added Sugar”

Here’s how you protect yourself:

1. Flip the pack. Ignore the front.
   

2. Check the ingredients. Look for fruit concentrate, jaggery, honey, glucose syrup.
   

3. Check sugar per 100 g.
   

• <5 g = low sugar.
  

• 5–10 g = moderate.
  

• 10 g = high sugar.
  

4. Check the total carbs. If sugar is hidden, carbs will still be high.
   

5. If it tastes sweet, it’s sweet. Labels don’t change biology.
   

 

Chapter 7: Case Studies from Indian Shelves

Juice Box

Front: “No Added Sugar. Made with Real Fruit.”

Back: 10% fruit concentrate + water.

Sugar: 24 g per glass.

👉 Same sugar as cola, but marketed as healthy.

Health Biscuit

Front: “No Added Sugar. High Fiber.”

Back: Wheat flour, jaggery, invert syrup.

Sugar: 20% by weight.

👉 Still a cookie.

Protein Bar

Front: “No Added Sugar. High Protein.”

Back: Dates, raisins, glucose syrup.

Sugar: 18–20 g per bar.

👉 More sugar than protein.

 

Chapter 8: The Honest Alternatives

If you truly want sugar-free:

• Look for monk fruit or stevia sweetened products.
  

• Check that maltodextrin or sorbitol aren’t hidden.
  

• Or best, stick to whole fruits, nuts, and clean-label snacks.
  

At EPRA Farms, we keep it simple:

• Monk fruit extract + erythritol.
  

• No jaggery, no concentrates, no “no added sugar” games.
  

• Transparent label, clean ingredients.
  

👉 Because “no added sugar” should mean exactly that: zero added sugar.

 

Chapter 9: FAQs

Q: Is “no added sugar” juice safe for kids?

A: No. It still has as much sugar as soft drinks. Whole fruit is safer.

Q: Is “no added sugar” safe for diabetics?

A: No. Fruit concentrate, honey, and jaggery spike glucose.

Q: Is “no added sugar” always bad?

A: Not always - but check the nutrition table. If sugar per 100 g is high, it’s unhealthy.

 

Conclusion: What It Really Means

“No added sugar” is one of the biggest half-truths in food marketing. It doesn’t mean sugar-free. It doesn’t mean diabetic-safe. It doesn’t mean low-calorie.

👉 It simply means the company avoided table sugar - but found other ways to make it sweet.

The only defense is awareness:

• Flip the pack.
  

• Read the numbers.
  

• Learn the aliases.
  

And when you want real sweetness without sugar games? That’s where monk fruit comes in.