What Does Zero Sugar Mean on a Supplement Label?

Sugar: it's seemingly everywhere. While some sugar is naturally occurring and comes from fruits, vegetables, and other sources, lots of foods nowadays use sugar to add sweetness, and sometimes these added sugars are unnecessary! If you are looking to cut sugars from your diet for lifestyle or dietary reasons, sometimes it can be hard to find alternatives to all the different ways added sugar finds its way into our diets. For example, people looking for a tasty way to close possible nutrient gaps in their diet may try gummy vitamins. However, many of these gummies do have added sugar for taste.

Thankfully, here at Nature Made®, we want to provide you with options so that you can find the perfect supplement for you. Nature Made is introducing Zero Sugar‡ Gummies! The packaging of some sugar free supplements can be a little confusing, using terms like "sugar free," "zero sugar," and "no sugar added." What does zero sugar mean? What’s the difference between zero sugar and sugar free? Are they interchangeable? Once again, Team Nature Made is here to help!

Overview of Sugar Terminology

Many savvy customers want to lower their sugar intake, and many supplements claim their lack of sugar with varied terminology. There are a lot of different sugar-lacking terms, like Zero Sugar, Sugar Free, and No Sugar Added, and it's essential to understand what each one means to be a health-conscious consumer! While you’re decoding your labels, here’s some help on what “mcg” means on vitamin labels.

Decoding Sugar Content Claims on Supplement Labels

Zero Sugar 

“Zero sugar” is among the most common marketing terms for foods and supplements claiming to lack sugar content. But what does zero sugar mean? Just about what you expect! A food or supplement can only be labeled "Zero sugar" if it contains less than 0.5 grams of sugar per labeled serving, and the food or supplement contains no ingredient that is a sugar or contains sugar, unless it adds a symbol next to that ingredient in the list of ingredients that refers to the statement "dietarily insignificant amount of sugar" (or other allowable statement) below it. Because most supplements typically have small serving sizes (less than 30 g) a statement about calorie content may need to be added to the label.[1][2] "Zero sugar" is different from terms like "reduced sugar" or "lower sugar," which are relative: "reduced sugar" means the product has at least 25% less sugar per serving when compared to a similarly appropriate reference food, whereas "zero sugar" is absolute; something labeled zero sugar must have a dietarily insignificant amount of sugar.[1][3]

Sugar Free

"Sugar free" is another term you'll often find on labeling for health-conscious customers. What makes it different from "zero sugar"? Nothing! "Sugar free" and "zero sugar" are interchangeable, so the same definition applies to both.

No Sugar Added

"No sugar added" is another term you often see when looking for health-conscious choices in foods and supplements. This term does have a different definition from "zero sugar," so let's get into the difference! "No sugar added" means what it sounds like: no sugar, or ingredient containing sugar, is added to the food or supplement while processing or packaging it. Additionally, none of the ingredients that make up the product can include added sugars, like jam or concentrated fruit juice, and the product has not undergone a process to increase sugar content. This term is limited to food and supplements that do not contain added sugars that normally contain them.[4]

So, what does this mean in practice? While "zero sugar" means that there may be only a dietarily insignificant amount of sugar in the product, a product that claims "No Sugar Added" can include sugar, as long as it's naturally occurring and not added as part of the processing or packaging. These rules also apply to "without added sugar" and "no added sugar."[4]

Why Put Sugar in Supplements?

So, why put sugar in supplements in the first place? Many people want to take dietary supplements but don't like the experience of swallowing softgels or tablets. Gummy supplements can provide an alternative way for these people to take supplements! These tasty supplements provide you with the vitamins and minerals you're looking for in a more appealing package. The sugar in these supplements adds to the taste of the gummies, making it a more pleasant experience overall. However, the FDA recommends limiting the amount of added sugar to 50 grams a day or less.[5] While many gummy supplement routines don't reach 50 grams a day, depending on your diet and specific health needs, it may be worth considering "zero sugar" gummies as an alternative!

Choosing the Right Sugar Free Supplements for Your Needs

When choosing sugar free supplements, look out for sugar substitutes like aspartame and sucralose. When you pick Nature Made® vitamins and supplements, you pick the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Vitamin & Supplement Brand*. Nature Made®'s vitamins and supplements are made from high-quality ingredients. We have a new range of sugar free‡ supplements, including Nature Made® Zero Sugar‡ Vitamin C Gummies and Zero Sugar‡ Vitamin D3 Gummies.†

Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle with Nature Made®

Team Nature Made is committed to quality with its sugar free products with health benefits that matter. If you’ve ever wondered the difference between vitamins and multivitamins, check out this handy guide! It's always essential to make informed decisions when you pick your vitamins and supplements, and Nature Made® is here to help make the informed choice an easy choice.

*Based on a survey of pharmacists who recommend branded vitamins and supplements.

‡Not a low calorie food

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

1. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.60(c)(1). Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.60
2. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.60(b)(2). Accessed February 14, 2024. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-101/section-101.60#p-101.60(b)(2)
3. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.60(c)(5). Accessed February 14, 2024. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-101/section-101.60#p-101.60(c)(5)
4. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.60(c)(2). Accessed January 22, 2024. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-D/section-101.60
5. Code of Federal Regulations. 21 CFR 101.9(c)(9). Accessed February 23, 2024. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-101#p-101.9(c)(9)