Sucrose

Sucrose is a type of sugar used as a common sweetener in foods and beverages. Sucrose is obtained by crystallization from sugar cane or sugar beet juice that has been extracted by pressing or diffusion, then clarified and evaporated.

Found In
  • Baked goods
  • Beets
  • Beverages
  • Candy
  • Sugarcane
Also Known As
  • Beet Sugar
  • Cane Sugar
  • Table Sugar
The Beverage Bottom Line

Sucrose is authorized for use in the U.S., Europe and Canada.

This ingredient may have authorizations in countries not included on this site.


International Assessments and Authorizations


U.S. Food And Drug Administration

Affirmation by FDA this ingredient is generally recognized as safe as a direct human food ingredient. ()

In 1976, the health aspects of sucrose as a food ingredient were evaluated.

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The European Commission provides standards related to certain sugars intended for human consumption.

In 2022, EFSA considered tolerable upper intake levels for dietary sugars concluding, “[T]he intake of added and free sugars should be as low as possible in the context of a nutritionally adequate diet.”

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) Food Standards Programme provides standards related to sugars.

A 2013 WHO-commissioned Cochrane review concluded, “The change in body fatness that occurs with modifying intakes (of free sugars) seems to be mediated via changes in energy intakes.” This review informed the WHO 2015 guidelines.

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Use as a conventional food ingredient.

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This page was last updated on 2/26/2026