Sugar Margarine

Sugar margarine is a food ingredient that combines margarine with added sugar. Margarine is an emulsion of vegetable oils and water, often used as a substitute for butter, and sugar is added during its production to provide sweetness.

Manufacturers add sugar margarine to products to provide fat for texture and moisture, and sugar for sweetness and browning. It is commonly found in baked goods like cookies and biscuits, as well as some snack foods.

The components of sugar margarine, including various fats and sugar, are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) or approved food additives by the FDA. Margarine often contains saturated fats, and historically contained partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), which were a source of artificial trans fat; however, PHOs are no longer generally recognized as safe by the FDA since 2018, significantly reducing artificial trans fat in the food supply. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030) advise against any recommended amount of added sugars, suggesting at most 10 grams per meal, while the World Health Organization advises limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake. Excessive intake of added sugars is a public health concern.