Label reading can be quite daunting especially when it comes to snack vending machines. Sugar is often a hidden ingredient on the labels in processed foods. Among other things, it enhances flavor, promotes browning and aids in preservation; however, the high sugar content in foods comes with a trade off. Excessive sugar intake can lead to type 2 diabetes, contribute to metabolic syndrome and lead to excessive weight gain. The empty calories in sugar don’t provide any nutritional benefit to the body, which is why it is important to know other names for sugar on food labels. Here are some common alternative names for sugar:
- Barley malt
- Barbados sugar
- Beet sugar
- Brown sugar
- Buttered syrup
- Cane juice
- Cane sugar
- Caramel
- Corn syrup
- Corn syrup solids
- Confectioner’s sugar
- Carob syrup
- Castor sugar
- Date sugar
- Dehydrated cane juice
- Demerara sugar
- Dextran
- Dextrose
- Diastatic malt
- Diatase
- Ethyl maltol
- Free Flowing Brown Sugars
- Fructose
- Fruit juice
- Fruit juice concentrate
- Galactose
- Glucose
- Glucose solids
- Golden sugar
- Golden syrup
- Grape sugar
- HFCS (High Frustose Corn Syrup… Very Bad!)
- Honey
- Icing sugar
- Invert sugar
- Lactose
- Malt
- Maltodextrin
- Maltose
- Malt syrup
- Mannitol
- Maple syrup
- Molasses
- Muscovado
- Panocha
- Powdered Sugar
- Raw sugar
- Refiner’s syrup
- Rice syrup
- Sorbitol
- Sorghum syrup
- Sucrose
- Sugar (granulated)
- Treacle
- Turbinado sugar
- Yellow sugar
There are some “Fake Sugars” and Sugars that we’re often told that aren’t as bad for you that are worth researching as well:
- Splenda
- Aspertame
- Agave Nectar
The results are particularly shocking. Read the labels and due your due diligence when researching. When you see the names and have questions about the health value of the sugar or possible issues, you can search the name in a search engine and find out a wealth of information on that particular type of sugar.
