Table 1.

Free sugars definition: summary of inclusions and exclusions

Included in the definition of free sugars	Excluded from the definition of free sugars
All added sugar in whatever form, including honey, syrups and nectars whether added to products during manufacture or by the consumer during cooking or at the table. This includes ingredients such as malt extract and glucose syrup	Ingredients not included in the definition of sugar used for nutrition labelling, that is, monosaccharides and disaccharides Maltodextrins, oligofructose and sugar substitutes such as polyols (sorbitol) are excluded from the definition
Lactose and galactose added as an ingredient to foods or drinks, including lactose in whey powder added as an ingredient	Lactose and galactose when naturally present in milk and dairy products including milk powder
All the sugars naturally present in fruit and vegetable juices, concentrates, smoothies, purées, pastes, powders and extruded fruit and vegetable products	All the sugars naturally present in fresh and most types of processed (dried, stewed, canned and frozen) fruit and vegetables (including beans and pulses) except for juices, smoothies, purées, pastes, powders and extruded products Sugars naturally present in puréed and powdered potatoes and other starchy staples
All sugars in drinks except for milk and other dairy-based drinks. Including: ∙ all sugars in unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices, fruit and vegetable juice concentrates and smoothies; ∙ all sugars in alcoholic drinks; ∙ all sugars naturally present in dairy-alternative drinks such as soya, rice, oat and nut-based drinks	Lactose and galactose naturally present in milk and other dairy-based drinks
	All sugars naturally present in cereal grains including rice, pasta and flour regardless of processing (other than cereal-based drinks)
	All sugars naturally present in nuts and seeds regardless of processing (other than nut-based drinks)