Packaged foods containing non-nutritive sweeteners also have high added sugar content: A Brazilian survey

This study investigated the use of added sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) in 4805 packaged foods (including non-alcoholic beverages) sold in a major supermarket in Brazil. The ingredient lists of all products were searched for the presence of added sugars and NNS. The added sugar content was estimated and compared between products containing added sugar, with and without NNS. Using criteria set by the new Brazilian food label rules, we determined whether foods with added sugars and NNS were classified as “high in added sugar”. Most products (66.7%) contained at least one type of sweetener (added sugars or NNS). Of the products containing NNS (n = 597), 81.5% also contained added sugar. Products containing both NNS and added sugar ingredients showed a lower overall added sugar content than products containing added sugars only. However, for a few food categories (chocolates, dairy and non-dairy dessert mixes and candies), the added sugar content did not differ significantly between products with and without NNS. Sixty-three percent of products containing both added sugar and NNS were classified as “high in added sugar”.