Added sugar

Added sugar or free sugar refers to sugar which is added to food and drinks in processing or preparation, as opposed to natural sugars present prior to processing and preparation. Medical consensus holds that added sugars contribute little nutritional value to food. It is sometimes described colloquially as empty calories. Sugar overconsumption is correlated with excessive calorie intake and increased risk of weight gain and various diseases.

Individuals who consume 17–21% of their daily calories from added sugar are reported to have a 38% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consume 8% of their daily calories from added sugar.