Foods with healthy-sounding buzzwords could be hiding added sugar in plain sight

Many consumers feel pride in avoiding the glazed pastries in the supermarket and instead opting for “all-natural” granola that comes packed with extra protein. The same goes for low-fat yogurts “made with real fruit,” organic plant-based milks, and bottled “superfood” smoothies. However, buyers should be aware that healthy grocery buzzwords like those often cover up an unhealthy amount of sugar. Added sugars are difficult to quickly spot because many companies use clever marketing to distract consumers, said Nicole Avena, a professor of neuroscience and psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical School and Princeton University who has studied added sugars. Avena said while some health-forward brands know people are starting to become aware of the hazards of added sugars, "a lot of the bigger brands don’t worry so much about people’s health.” Along with saturated fat and salt, eating excess sugar is linked to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other health risks. The average American consumes 17 teaspoons of added sugar a day, which adds up to 57 pounds (26 kilograms) per year, according to the American Heart Association. About half of that comes from beverages, but much of the rest is sneaked into cereal, salsa, prepared sandwiches, dairy products, bottled sauces, and baked goods, including many brands of whole-grain bread. To help control sugar intake, start by checking the nutrition label. Since 2021, food companies have been required to list the quantity of added sugars separately from total sugar content. But the plan backfired, Avena said. Companies reduced common sweeteners like refined beet sugar and high-fructose corn syrup but added alternatives, such as monk fruit and the sugar alcohol erythritol, which aren’t considered “added sugars” under FDA regulations. “Now our foods are even more sweet than they were back in 2020,” Avena said. According to Collin Popp, a dietitian and professor at NYU Langone Health, the key is to be mindful of what you’re eating, even if the product seems healthy or if the package is labeled organic. Roasted nuts, plant-based milks, and wasabi peas, for example, can include a surprising amount of added sugars. So can English muffins and Greek yogurt. This article was provided by The Associated Press.