Creamer

Creamer is a food product designed to lighten and often sweeten beverages like coffee and tea, serving as an alternative to milk or cream. It can be found in liquid or powdered forms. Creamers are typically made from a blend of water, sugar, vegetable oils, and various food additives to achieve desired texture, flavor, and stability.

Manufacturers add creamer to beverages and some processed foods to enhance creaminess, richness, and flavor. It is widely used in powdered drink mixes, instant coffees, and hot chocolate, as well as in some gravy mixes and soups. Creamer helps to improve the mouthfeel and appearance of these products.

Creamer is a blend of ingredients, and its health implications depend on its specific formulation. Many creamers contain added sugars; the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend no amount of added sugars. Historically, some creamers contained partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which are no longer considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA since 2018, effectively removing most artificial trans fats from these products. Individual ingredients in creamers, such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, and colors, are regulated by the FDA as food additives or GRAS substances. Some creamers may contain artificial colors like Yellow 5 or Yellow 6, which are part of the FDA's announced plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes. Titanium dioxide, another common ingredient in some creamers, remains permitted by the FDA.