Sugar Free vs. No Sugar Added: What's the Difference?
The labels can be confusing. Sugar free and no sugar added don't mean the same thing. Here's what each term means on a nutrition panel.
By Glÿka Editorial Team
Sugar free and no sugar added do not mean the same thing. The FDA regulates both terms, but they describe different things — and the difference matters when you're trying to eat less sugar.
Sugar free means the product contains less than 0.5g of sugar per serving. This includes both naturally occurring sugars and added sugars. A sugar-free product can still contain sugar substitutes (stevia, monk fruit, allulose, sugar alcohols).
No sugar added means no sugar-containing ingredients were added during processing or packaging. The product may still contain naturally occurring sugars from fruit, milk, grains, or other ingredients. A no-sugar-added fruit gummy could have several grams of sugar from fruit puree.
This is why the nutrition facts panel matters more than the front label. Look at the 'Total Sugars' and 'Added Sugars' lines. A product can claim 'no sugar added' and still have 12g of total sugar per serving. A product can claim 'sugar free' and have sugar alcohols that affect digestion.
Glÿka keeps the promise direct: a protein gummy experience without added sugar weighing down the macro profile. We list every gram transparently on the back of the pouch.
The bigger picture: the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to 25g per day for women and 36g per day for men. The average American eats 70g. Cutting added sugar — even without any other dietary change — is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for metabolic health.
When in doubt, ignore the front of the package and read the nutrition facts panel. The marketing claims are designed to confuse you; the nutrition panel is regulated.
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