Ingredient
Is Sugar Real Food?
Sugar, specifically sucrose, is a naturally occurring carbohydrate typically extracted from sugarcane or sugar beets. After harvesting, the plants are crushed, and the juice is purified, evaporated, and crystallized into the familiar granules we use.
Why it’s in your food
The manufacturer’s reason.
Food manufacturers use sugar primarily for its sweetening properties, but also for its role in browning, fermentation, and as a natural preservative that helps extend shelf life.
Community scan data
How it shows up in the wild.
Found in 48 productswe’ve analyzed.
48
Rated Clean
0
Caution
0
Flagged
Where to find it
Products containing Sugar.
42 products in our database.
Post Consumer Brands
Post Great Grains
Too many processed ingredients, especially the flavors.
Nugget Market
CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH ON WHEAT
Too many industrial additives and mystery flavors!
DIST. BY GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.
Canned Wild Blueberries
Enriched flour and artificial flavor, oh dear!
Frito-Lay, Inc.
Frito-Lay Flavored Chips
Too many artificial colors, flavors, and additives!
Conagra Brands, Inc.
Cocoa Puffs Cereal
Enriched flour and artificial flavor are not good.
POST CONSUMER BRANDS, LLC
Pebbles Cereal
Full of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives!
HOME TOWN FOOD COMPANY
Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Biscuits
Too many artificial ingredients, very industrial!
SEMIFREDDI'S
SEMIFREDDI'S
Enriched flour and artificial flavors are not traditional.
Kellogg Sales Co
Pop-Tarts
Artificial dyes and enriched flour make this product RED.
SCONEHENGE
MIXED BERRY English Tea Scones
Enriched flour and too many additives!
JUST BAGELS MFG. INC.
Sesame Bagels
Mostly good, but some modern processing aids
WK Kellogg Sales LLC
Alpen Cereal
Enriched flour and added vitamins make this RED.
POST CONSUMER BRANDS, LLC
Cocoa Pebbles
Artificial flavor and caramel color are too much!
LOTTIE'S, LLC
Fully Cooked Heat & Eat Smoked Sausage
Simple ingredients for a quality hot dog.
MAXI CANADA INC.
Chicken Breast
Too many industrial ingredients and processing aids.
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc.
Vanilla Ice Cream
Mostly real food, with a few modern touches.
PEPPERIDGE FARM, INC.
Milk Chocolate Cookies
Enriched flour and hydrogenated oils spoil these cookies.
Unknown
Cocktail Sauce
Mystery 'Natural Flavors' in this sauce!
LPG, Inc (dba Parkside Bakery)
Pain de Mie Brioche Bread
Simple, honest ingredients for a delicious bread!
POST CONSUMER BRANDS, LLC
Post Honeycomb Cereal
Artificial flavors and colors, too much processing!
TRADER JOE'S
Trader Joe's Cookies
Too many strange, processed ingredients!
GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.
Cereal
Too many questionable ingredients
GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.
Whole Grain Oats Cereal
Too many modern, industrial ingredients.
Unknown
Cereal
Artificial colors and enriched flour are no good!
TRADER JOE'S
Vanilla Ice Cream Chocolate Wafer Cookies
Enriched flour and carrageenan make this dessert suspect.
Trader Joe's
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Too many industrial ingredients for cookies
NESTLÉ USA, INC.
Nesquik
Classic ingredients for a simple chocolate drink.
TRADER JOE'S
Moca Cookies
Too many industrial ingredients for Nonna's approval
MONDELEZ GLOBAL LLC
Fresh Stacks
Enriched flour and artificial flavor are not real food.
TRADER JOE'S
Cheesecake
Enriched flour and too many additives make this a no-go.
Rigoni di Asiago USA LLC
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
Mostly real ingredients, a few modern additions.
WK Kellogg Sales LLC
Raisin Bran
Simple, wholesome ingredients Nonna would recognize!
GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.
Cocoa Puffs
Too many artificial and processed ingredients!
MONDELEZ GLOBAL LLC
Petit Ecolier Biscuits
Artificial flavor in these biscuits!
GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.
Fruit Snacks
Corn Syrup and Modified Corn Starch are not traditional.
MONDELEZ GLOBAL LLC
Petit Écolier Biscuits
Artificial Flavor spoils these Petit Écolier biscuits.
WK Kellogg Sales LLC
Rice Krispies Cereal
Too many industrial flavors for Nonna!
PEPPERIDGE FARM, INC.
Pepperidge Farm Milk Chocolate Cookies
Too many industrial ingredients, Nonna would disapprove!
General Mills Sales, Inc.
Cheerios (likely Original)
Industrial syrup and artificial color in your cereal!
Bio-Familia AG
Muesli Cereal
A simple list of wholesome ingredients.
Mondelez Global LLC
Sour Patch Kids
Artificial colors and flavors, corn syrup!
ANDROS
Fruit Preserves
Simple ingredients, just like Nonna used to make.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How is everyday sugar made from sugarcane or sugar beets?▾
What role does sugar play beyond sweetness in food?▾
Are there different types of 'sugar' in the kitchen?▾
Check your own pantry.
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