Discover 77 Other Names for Sugar in Your Food

Sugar is everywhere, but spotting it on ingredient labels isn’t always easy. Manufacturers often use different terms to disguise its presence, making it harder to know exactly what you’re consuming. Whether you’re trying to cut back on sugar or just stay informed about what’s in your food, it’s important to recognize the various ways sugar can appear. These other names for sugar are often hidden in plain sight, from natural-sounding sweeteners to complex scientific terms.

Once you know what to look for, reading food labels becomes much simpler—and you can make smarter, healthier choices for yourself and your family.

Common Other Names for Sugar

Sugar doesn’t always go by its simple, recognizable name. In fact, it often appears under terms that sound more complex or less familiar. These names are commonly used in everyday food products, from snacks to beverages, and they all mean one thing—added sugar. Here’s a list of common other names for sugar and what they mean:

1. Sucrose: This is the scientific term for table sugar. It’s a combination of glucose and fructose, found in most sugary treats.
2. Cane Sugar: Derived from sugarcane, this is one of the most traditional forms of sugar, often used in cooking and baking.
3. Brown Sugar: A combination of white sugar and molasses, giving it a darker color and a richer flavor.
4. Powdered Sugar: Also called confectioners’ sugar, this finely ground sugar is mixed with a bit of starch to prevent clumping, commonly used in frosting and desserts.
5. Raw Sugar: A less refined version of cane sugar, often marketed as a more “natural” alternative but still essentially sugar.
6. Turbinado Sugar: A type of raw sugar with large, coarse crystals. It’s often used as a topping for baked goods.
7. Demerara Sugar: Similar to turbinado, this sugar has a light brown color and mild molasses flavor, typically used in tea or coffee.
8. Coconut Sugar: Made from the sap of coconut palm trees, it’s often marketed as a healthier alternative, but it’s still a form of sugar.
9. Beet Sugar: Extracted from sugar beets, this sugar is chemically identical to cane sugar but comes from a different plant source.
10. Muscovado Sugar: A dark, sticky sugar with a strong molasses flavor, often used in specialty recipes.
11. Date Sugar: Made from ground dried dates, this sugar retains some of the fruit’s natural nutrients but is still a sweetener.
12. Palm Sugar: Derived from the sap of various palm trees, it has a slightly caramel-like flavor.
13. Invert Sugar: A liquid sweetener made by breaking down sucrose into glucose and fructose, often used in syrups and candies.
14. Rock Sugar: Large crystals of sugar, typically used in teas or traditional recipes, especially in Asian cuisines.
15. Molasses: A byproduct of sugar production, molasses is thick and syrupy with a distinct, rich flavor.
16. Golden Syrup: A type of invert sugar syrup, commonly used in baking and desserts, especially in British recipes.
17. Corn Syrup: Made from cornstarch, this liquid sweetener is commonly used in processed foods and candies.
18. High-Fructose Corn Syrup: A processed sweetener derived from corn syrup, often found in sodas and snacks.
19. Maple Sugar: Made by boiling maple syrup until it crystallizes, often used as a natural sweetener.
20. Honey: While technically natural, honey is still a sugar and is used as a sweetener in many recipes.

Natural Sweeteners That Are Still Sugar

Not all natural sweeteners are free from sugar—they may come from natural sources, but they still count as added sugars. Here’s a list of natural sweeteners that are commonly used and what they mean:

1. Agave Nectar: A sweet syrup derived from the agave plant. Though it’s natural, it’s high in fructose, which acts as sugar in the body.
2. Coconut Nectar: Made from the sap of coconut trees, this sweetener is often used as a sugar substitute but still contributes to sugar intake.
3. Maple Syrup: A natural syrup extracted from maple trees. It’s rich in flavor but contains a high sugar content.
4. Date Syrup: Made from blended or boiled dates, this sweetener is nutrient-rich but still adds sugar to your diet.
5. Fruit Juice Concentrate: Concentrated fruit juices are often used as natural sweeteners in products but are essentially sugar in a different form.
6. Barley Malt Syrup: A natural sweetener made from sprouted barley grains, often used in baking or brewing but still a source of sugar.
7. Brown Rice Syrup: A syrup derived from fermented cooked rice, used as a natural sweetener but containing high sugar levels.
8. Sorghum Syrup: Extracted from sorghum plants, this sweetener is natural but still sugar-heavy.
9. Yacon Syrup: Made from the roots of the yacon plant, it’s lower in calories but still considered a form of sugar.
10. Palm Syrup: Extracted from the sap of palm trees, this sweetener is popular in tropical regions but is high in sugar.
11. Grape Must: A syrup made from crushed grapes, used in Mediterranean cooking as a natural sweetener.
12. Apple Syrup: Derived from boiled-down apple juice, it’s natural but packed with sugar.
13. Honey Crystals: A powdered form of honey, often used as a natural sweetener in processed foods.
14. Birch Syrup: A unique sweetener made from birch tree sap, containing sugars similar to maple syrup.

Scientific Names for Sugar

Scientific names for sugar often appear on ingredient labels and can make it harder to recognize added sugar. Here’s a breakdown of the most common ones:

1. Glucose: Also known as blood sugar, it’s a simple sugar found in many foods and often used in processed products.
2. Fructose: A natural sugar found in fruits and honey, but also commonly added to sodas and processed snacks.
3. Galactose: Found naturally in milk and dairy products, this sugar is often present in processed foods.
4. Lactose: The sugar naturally occurring in milk, often used in dairy-based products.
5. Maltose: Also called malt sugar, it’s found in malted products like beer and cereal.
6. Dextrose: A sugar derived from corn or wheat, often used in baking and processed foods.
7. Ribose: A naturally occurring sugar found in every living cell, often used in supplements and energy products.
8. Xylose: A sugar extracted from wood or plant fibers, used in food processing.
9. Trehalose: A sugar found in mushrooms and some seafood, used as a food additive.
10. Mannose: A sugar found in fruits like cranberries, often used in supplements.
11. Isomaltulose: A naturally occurring sugar found in honey and sugarcane, commonly used in sports nutrition products.
12. Tagatose: A naturally occurring sugar found in fruits and dairy, often used as a low-calorie sweetener.
13. Allulose: A rare sugar found in certain fruits, used as a low-calorie sugar substitute.
14. Arabinose: Found in plant cell walls, this sugar is sometimes used as a food additive.
15. Cellobiose: A sugar derived from the breakdown of cellulose, used in food and industrial applications.

Less Obvious Names for Sugar

Sometimes sugar hides behind names that sound less familiar or completely unrelated to sugar. These names can make it challenging to spot added sugar in ingredient lists. Here are some less obvious names for sugar:

1. Evaporated Cane Juice: A fancy term for sugar derived from sugarcane, often used to make products sound healthier.
2. Fruit Juice Syrup: A concentrated syrup made from fruit juice, essentially sugar in liquid form.
3. Organic Cane Juice: Though organic, this is still a processed form of sugar extracted from sugarcane.
4. Carob Syrup: A sweet syrup made from carob pods, commonly used in health foods.
5. Maltodextrin: A starch-derived additive that has a slightly sweet taste, often used in processed foods.
6. Dextran: A carbohydrate with sweetening properties, used as a food additive and stabilizer.
7. Golden Cane Syrup: A processed sugar syrup made from sugarcane, often used in baking and beverages.
8. Rice Malt: A natural sweetener derived from fermented rice, but it still functions as sugar.
9. Treacle: A syrup similar to molasses, commonly used in British cooking and desserts.
10. Panela: A type of unrefined cane sugar popular in Latin American cuisine.
11. Rapadura: A minimally processed sugar made from cane juice, often marketed as a healthier alternative.
12. Buttercream Syrup: Found in flavored beverages and desserts, this is a sugar-heavy syrup with a creamy taste.
13. Panocha: A raw sugar often used in Mexican cooking, especially for traditional sweets.
14. Sweet Sorghum: Derived from sorghum plants, this sweetener is often used in regional cooking.
15. Hydrolyzed Starch: A sugar derived from the breakdown of starches, commonly added to processed foods.

Artificial and Alternative Sweeteners

Artificial and alternative sweeteners are often marketed as sugar substitutes. While they might not be sugar in the traditional sense, they serve the same purpose—adding sweetness. Here’s a look at some common options:

1. Aspartame: A low-calorie artificial sweetener used in diet sodas, sugar-free gum, and desserts.
2. Sucralose: Found in many “sugar-free” products, it’s hundreds of times sweeter than sugar but has no calories.
3. Saccharin: One of the oldest artificial sweeteners, often used in tabletop packets and sugar-free candies.
4. Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K): A calorie-free sweetener frequently used in combination with other sweeteners in drinks and baked goods.
5. Cyclamate: A banned sweetener in some countries but still used in others for its sugar-like taste.
6. Neotame: A more potent version of aspartame, used in processed foods and beverages.
7. Erythritol: A sugar alcohol with fewer calories, often found in keto and low-sugar products.
8. Xylitol: A sugar alcohol used in sugar-free gums and candies, known for its dental health benefits.
9. Mannitol: Another sugar alcohol, often used in diabetic-friendly products.
10. Sorbitol: Commonly found in sugar-free candies, gums, and toothpaste, though it can cause digestive issues in large amounts.
11. Stevia: A natural sweetener derived from the stevia plant, used as a zero-calorie sugar alternative.
12. Monk Fruit Extract: A natural sweetener made from monk fruit, popular for its no-calorie sweetness.
13. Isomalt: A sugar alcohol used in sugar-free candies and as a stabilizer in baked goods.

Why Knowing These Names Matters

Recognizing the various names for sugar is more than just a helpful skill—it’s a key step toward making informed and healthier choices. Sugar hides in countless foods, and manufacturers often use unfamiliar names to make products appear healthier than they are. By learning these names, you can take control of your diet and avoid consuming excess sugar unknowingly.

1. Hidden Sugars Can Add Up Quickly

Many processed foods, beverages, and even “healthy” snacks contain multiple forms of sugar, often listed under different names. Without knowing what to look for, you might consume far more sugar than you realize. For example, a single granola bar might include cane syrup, maltodextrin, and fruit juice concentrate, all of which are forms of sugar.

Understanding these terms empowers you to evaluate nutrition labels more critically and spot added sugars disguised by less familiar names. This helps you manage your daily sugar intake and stay within recommended limits.

2. Excess Sugar Impacts Your Health

High sugar consumption is linked to various health issues, including weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. Even seemingly small amounts of hidden sugar can add up over time, contributing to these risks. Knowing the different names for sugar can help you identify sources of unnecessary sugar and reduce your intake.

When you’re aware of these hidden sugars, you can make better choices about the foods you eat and protect your long-term health. Swapping sugar-laden foods for healthier options becomes easier when you recognize what to avoid.

3. Marketing Can Be Misleading

Food manufacturers often use “natural” or “healthy-sounding” sugar names to create a perception of better quality. Terms like “organic cane juice” or “fruit juice syrup” might seem wholesome, but they’re still added sugars. This marketing strategy can mislead consumers into thinking they’re making healthier choices.

By familiarizing yourself with these less obvious names, you can see through marketing tactics and focus on the actual nutritional value of a product. This knowledge helps you avoid falling for clever branding and ensures you’re making truly informed decisions.

4. Helps in Tailoring Dietary Needs

If you’re following a specific diet—like low-sugar, keto, or diabetic-friendly—it’s crucial to identify hidden sugars. Knowing these names makes it easier to find products that align with your goals, whether that’s cutting back on carbs or avoiding sugars altogether.

Reading labels with confidence gives you greater flexibility in managing your diet while still enjoying a variety of foods. Over time, this skill can lead to more sustainable eating habits and better overall health.

Understanding the different names for sugar is an essential tool for navigating today’s food landscape. Armed with this knowledge, you can take charge of your health and make choices that truly align with your nutritional goals.