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  • Page | Last updated: 09 Jan 2026
Main sugars (mono- and disaccharide carbohydrates), their dietary sources and metabolism and their sources
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Main dietary sugars (mono- and disaccharide carbohydrates) and their sources

Based on: SACN 2015 report (pdf) , Present Knowledge in Nutrition 2020  

Sugars

Dietary sources and metabolism

SucroseMajor disaccharide naturally present in sugar cane, sugar beet, fruits, vegetables, and roots. Also widely used in processed foods and beverages like soft drinks, juice nectarsa, sports and energy drinks, sweet and savoury snacks, sweet spreads and jams, dairy products and ice-cream. In the body, sucrose is metabolised into glucose and fructose juices
LactoseMajor disaccharide found naturally in milk and dairy products. In the body, lactose is hydrolysed into galactose and glucose.

Glucose

Fructose

Galactose

These monosaccharides occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and plant juices. Additional sources include honey and syrups. Free galactose is rare in foods, except in fermented and lactase-hydrolysed milks.

a The addition of sugars is not authorised in fruit juices, fruit juice from concentrate, concentrated fruit juice, water extracted fruit juice, and dehydrated/powdered fruit juice, and is only allowed in fruit nectars under specific requirements ( EU 2012 (pdf)   ).