Guide to Hidden Sugars

Key to Hidden Sugars in Popular Foods

Most of us are aware that an excessive intake of sugar is bad for us. It not only damages your teeth but can also have serious implications for your general health. It may for example, increase your risk of developing diabetes or becoming obese.

Whilst food manufacturers have a legal obligation to list any sugars contained within their product, the information they provide can often be misleading. You may think that you don’t have a lot of sugar in your diet because, for example, you don’t eat sweets or take sugar in your tea and coffee. Beware! Sugar is often present in foods under a different guise. Names used include: – honey, dextrose, fructose, corn syrup, galactose, lactose, polydextrose, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, maltodextrin, turbinado sugar. For more information about food labelling please refer to our first practice newsletter which can be found here.

We have provided you with a table of some popular foodstuffs and their sugar content over the page. If you have any queries please feel free to discuss them with a member of our team.