Topping Ingredients: Sugar

Sugar, also known as sucrose, is a common carbohydrate found naturally in many plants. It is primarily extracted and refined from sugarcane or sugar beets. The refining process removes impurities, resulting in the white crystalline product widely used as a food ingredient.

Sugar is primarily used as a sweetener to enhance the taste of foods and beverages. It also acts as a preservative in jams and jellies, and contributes to texture, browning, and bulk in baked goods and other processed foods. It is commonly found in desserts, candies, soft drinks, and many processed snacks.

Sugar is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used in accordance with good manufacturing practices. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend no amount of added sugars, and at most 10 grams of added sugars per meal. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises reducing intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake. Excessive intake of added sugars is associated with increased calorie intake and may contribute to health issues such as weight gain and dental cavities.