Added sugars are sugars and syrups put into foods during processing — not the natural sugar in fruit or milk.
The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams (about 12 teaspoons) on a 2,000-calorie diet.
The added sugars line appeared on U.S. labels starting in 2020 and is one of the most useful numbers for drinks.
One of the biggest changes to the Nutrition Facts label in a generation was a single new line: 'Includes Xg Added Sugars.' It appears indented under Total Sugars, and it has its own % Daily Value. Here's what it means and why it matters.
Added vs. total sugars
Total Sugars counts all the sugar in a food, including sugar that occurs naturally — the fructose in fruit, the lactose in milk. Added Sugars counts only the sugar put in during processing or preparation: table sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, cane juice, and dozens of others. The distinction matters because naturally occurring sugars come packaged with fiber, water, and nutrients, while added sugars are largely 'empty' calories. Read more in added vs. natural sugars.
Why it was added to the label
For decades, labels showed only total sugars, so a plain container of milk and a sugary drink could look similar. Health authorities including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines had concluded that added sugars specifically were driving obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The FDA finalized the added sugars line in 2016, and it began appearing on packages in 2020. See the history of added sugar labeling.
The 50-gram Daily Value
The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day — about 12 teaspoons or roughly 12–13 sugar cubes — on a 2,000-calorie diet. So a food with 25 grams of added sugars uses 50% of your daily budget in one serving. Many single drinks meet or exceed the entire 50-gram limit, which the added sugars %DV now makes impossible to miss. Learn what a gram looks like in what is a gram of sugar.
Drinks are the clearest case for this line. A large blended coffee or full-sweet boba can carry 50–70 grams of added sugar — an entire day's worth or more — in one cup. That's exactly the situation the BevFacts label makes visible.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between total sugars and added sugars?
Total sugars includes all sugar, including the natural sugar in fruit and milk. Added sugars counts only sugar put into a product during processing, like table sugar or corn syrup. Only added sugars has a Daily Value to limit.
How many grams of added sugar per day is the limit?
The FDA Daily Value is 50 grams per day on a 2,000-calorie diet — about 12 teaspoons. The American Heart Association suggests even less: about 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men.
Is the sugar in fruit 'added sugar'?
No. The sugar naturally in whole fruit is not added sugar. But fruit juice concentrate used as a sweetener does count as added sugar.
See it on a real label
Build a Nutrition Facts label for any drink and watch the sugar, added sugars, and caffeine update as you customize it.
This article is general educational information, not medical, nutritional, or legal advice. For guidance about your own diet or health conditions such as diabetes, talk to a qualified healthcare professional. Nutrition values cited are typical figures and vary by product and preparation.