An artificial sweetener (brand name Sunette). It is about 200 times sweeter than sucrose.
Also called high-intensity sweeteners or sugar substitutes. Artificial sweeteners are calorie- free or used in such small quantities that their calorie content is very low. Aspartame, saccharin and acesulfame-K are examples of artificial sweeteners.
An artificial sweetener. Aspartame (brand name NutraSweet) is about 180 times sweeter than sucrose. As a sweetener, it is used in such small quantities that it's almost calorie free. It is used in soft drinks and other products. Aspartame is available at grocery stores as Equal (aspartame mixed with dextrose and maltose dextrin).
The sugar crystals of molasses syrup. See "Molasses."
Finely ground sucrose, commonly called "powdered sugar."
Com syrup and other sugars made from corn.
A syrup composed mostly of glucose made from cornstarch. Bakery products, soft drinks and canned goods often contain corn syrup.
Another name for glucose.
A light-colored syrup made from corn syrup. Also a simple sugar found in fresh fruit and honey.
A simple sugar found in lactose or "milk sugar."
A simple sugar found widely in nature. Used commercially as a sweetener.
Another name for common table sugar or sucrose.
Produced by bees, honey is a mixture of fructose, glucose, sugar and water
A sugar made by splitting sucrose into its two parts, glucose and fructose. It is used only in liquid form and is sweeter than sucrose. Invert sugars help keep baked foods and confections soft.
The main carbohydrate found in milk. It can be broken down into glucose and galactose. Lactose is sometimes called "milk sugar."
A sugar product of fermentation. It is commonly called "malt sugar." Beer and breads often contain maltose.
A sugar alcohol that causes little or no tooth decay. Mannitol has a laxative effect when too much is consumed. It is a nutritive (calorie-containing) sweetener.
Sugar found in the sap flow of sugar maple trees. It is made up mainly of sucrose, fructose and glucose. Foods rarely contain real maple sugar. Instead, manufacturers commonly replace it with sucrose and artificial maple flavorings.
That which remains when sugar cane or beet juice is fumed into sucrose crystals.
A term used freely to describe any sweetener except artificial sweeteners. Natural sweeteners may include honey or fruit juice.
Sweeteners that provide calories in the diet, but no other essential nutrients. Examples of nutritive sweeteners include sugar, corn syrup, honey, molasses and brown sugar.
True "raw sugar" cannot be sold in the United States. This is because it contains impurities. When raw sugar is washed of these impurities, it is sometimes called "turbinado sugar." It may even be labeled "raw sugar." Raw sugar washed of its impurities is 99 percent sucrose and is almost the same as refined white sugar.
An artificial sweetener that contains no calories. Saccharin has been used for almost 100 years in the United States. It is used mainly in soft drinks and as a tabletop sweetener. In 1977, tests showed that rats consuming high doses of saccharin developed tumors. Products with saccharin must carry the warning label: "Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals."
A sugar alcohol sweetener made from glucose. It is present naturally in some fruit and berries. Sorbitol is more slowly absorbed by the body than refined sugar. It is used in special dietary foods and is a nutritive (calorie-containing) sweetener.
Source: The Food and Drug Administration