Sugar
Sugar carries a safety score of 4/5 and appears in 159,807 indexed US food products. CSPI rates it “Cut Back.”
4/5 from FDA SAFFA + CSPI Chemical Cuisine
How common is vs other flagged additives?
Number of indexed products containing each of the most common flagged additives — Sugar highlighted.
Indexed products containing each flagged additive. Source: Open Food Facts ingredient lists × FDA SAFFA × CSPI Chemical Cuisine.
Function
Sweetener
Safety Assessment
Sugar is generally considered safe for consumption based on available regulatory and scientific data. It has a safety score of 4/5, indicating broad acceptance by food safety authorities. CSPI recommends limiting consumption of this ingredient.
What the Data Says About
Sugar currently appears in 159,807 products across the OpenFoodFacts catalog we index, which gives a concrete measure of its footprint on US grocery shelves. Our internal safety score of 4/5 synthesizes FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Chemical Cuisine classification of "Cut Back." These two frameworks capture different questions: regulators ask whether exposure at typical intake is acceptable, while consumer-advocacy groups examine cumulative dietary load and vulnerable-population risk.
In food manufacturing, Sugar functions as a sweetener. That technical role explains why it recurs across many product categories — formulators select specific additives for stability, shelf life, color, or texture performance, and substitution is rarely a one-for-one swap when regulations or consumer preferences shift. Inspection and outbreak data often trace back to breakdown in the control of exactly these kinds of functional ingredients, either through contaminated batches, undisclosed substitutions, or labeling errors that trigger FDA-initiated recalls.
No specific concern flags are attached to Sugar in our current data snapshot beyond the regulatory and CSPI classifications above. That does not rule out individual sensitivity reactions, and anyone managing allergies, elimination diets, or chronic conditions should verify with a qualified healthcare professional before relying on population-level ratings.
Safety Profile at a Glance
| Source | Classification | Year |
|---|---|---|
| FDA SAFFA | Not listed | 2024 |
| CSPI Chemical Cuisine | Cut Back | 2024 |
| PlainFoodSafe Score | 4/5 | 2026 |
| Product footprint | 159,807 products | OpenFoodFacts |
FDA SAFFA database, CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings, OpenFoodFacts product index. See methodology.
Products Containing
Showing 50 of 159,807 products
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sugar safe to eat? ▼
Sugar has a safety score of 4/5. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) rates it as "Cut Back." Always check with a healthcare provider if you have specific dietary concerns.
What products contain Sugar? ▼
Sugar is found in 159,807 products in our database, spanning various food categories and brands.
What does Sugar do in food? ▼
Sugar is used as a sweetener in food products.
Where does this ingredient safety data come from? ▼
Safety data comes from the FDA's SAFFA (Substances Added to Food) database, CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest) ratings, and the OpenFoodFacts product database. Product counts reflect items cataloged in OpenFoodFacts.