{
  "name": "Zero Sugar Facts — sweetener comparison dataset",
  "description": "Typical comparison figures for 23 sugars and sweeteners (calories, glycemic impact, sweetness, baking behavior, label treatment and notes), drawn from published references and FDA guidance. The 'California AB 1264 (K-12)' column indicates whether the substance is named in California's Real Food, Healthy Kids Act (AB 1264, 2025; Chapter 467, Statutes of 2025) among sweetener substances used to classify a food as ultraprocessed for K-12 school nutrition. Items marked 'Not listed' include sugars, which are addressed under separate added-sugar provisions.",
  "source": "https://zerosugarfacts.com/zsf-master-comparison-hub.html",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "version": "1.5",
  "dateModified": "2026-08-01",
  "columns": {
    "sweetener": "Sweetener",
    "family": "Family",
    "calories_per_g": "Calories / g",
    "glycemic_index": "Glycemic index",
    "is_sugar": "Is it a sugar?",
    "browns_bakes": "Browns / bakes",
    "adds_bulk": "Adds bulk",
    "sweetness_vs_sugar": "Sweetness vs sugar",
    "sweetness_note": "Sweetness note",
    "added_sugar_us_label": "Added Sugar on US label",
    "who_2023_advisory": "WHO 2023 advisory",
    "lead_concern_flag": "Lead concern flag",
    "california_ab1264": "California AB 1264 (K-12)"
  },
  "records": [
    {
      "sweetener": "Allulose",
      "family": "Rare sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~0.4",
      "glycemic_index": "Zero",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~70%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Outside advisory",
      "lead_concern_flag": "None of the below",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Sucrose (table sugar)",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~4",
      "glycemic_index": "High",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "100%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "The reference added sugar",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "High-fructose corn syrup",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~4",
      "glycemic_index": "High",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~100%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "“Mainly sugar”",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Fructose",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~4",
      "glycemic_index": "Low (~19)",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~130%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "“Mainly sugar”",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Honey",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~3",
      "glycemic_index": "Moderate–high",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~120%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Regional arsenic; infant botulism",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Molasses",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~3",
      "glycemic_index": "Moderate–high",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": null,
      "sweetness_note": "less sweet than sugar, varies by grade",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Lead / acrylamide (Prop 65)",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Agave nectar",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~3.1",
      "glycemic_index": "Low–moderate",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~140%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "High fructose load",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Fruit juice concentrate",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~3",
      "glycemic_index": "Varies",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": null,
      "sweetness_note": "comparable to sugar, varies by fruit source",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "Yes",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Added sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "“Made from fruit” halo",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Lactose",
      "family": "Sugar",
      "calories_per_g": "~4",
      "glycemic_index": "Low",
      "is_sugar": "Yes",
      "browns_bakes": "Limited",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~20%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "If added",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Intrinsic sugar",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Lactose intolerance",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Maltodextrin",
      "family": "Starch-derived",
      "calories_per_g": "~4",
      "glycemic_index": "Very high",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "Yes",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "very low",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No*",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Carbohydrate",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Very high GI; carrier in blends",
      "california_ab1264": "Not listed"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Erythritol",
      "family": "Sugar alcohol",
      "calories_per_g": "~0.2",
      "glycemic_index": "Zero–very low",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~70%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Excluded (sugar alcohol)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Cardiovascular association (Witkowski)",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Xylitol",
      "family": "Sugar alcohol",
      "calories_per_g": "~2.4",
      "glycemic_index": "Very low",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "Limited",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~100%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Excluded (sugar alcohol)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "CV association (2024); toxic to dogs",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Sorbitol",
      "family": "Sugar alcohol",
      "calories_per_g": "~2.6",
      "glycemic_index": "Very low",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~60%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Excluded (sugar alcohol)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Laxative effect; AB 1264",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Maltitol",
      "family": "Sugar alcohol",
      "calories_per_g": "~2.1",
      "glycemic_index": "Low–moderate",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "Limited",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~90%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Excluded (sugar alcohol)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Highest-GI polyol; AB 1264",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Isomalt",
      "family": "Sugar alcohol",
      "calories_per_g": "~2.0",
      "glycemic_index": "Very low",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "Limited",
      "adds_bulk": "Yes",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~50%",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Excluded (sugar alcohol)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Caloric polyol; AB 1264",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Aspartame",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "≈0**",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~200×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (named)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "IARC 2B; obesity association",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (nonnutritive)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Sucralose",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~600×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (named)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "DNA-toxic 6-acetate; immunotherapy assoc.",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Saccharin",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~350×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (named)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Body-fat association; bladder syndrome",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (nonnutritive)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Acesulfame potassium",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~200×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (named)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Cancer + early-puberty associations",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (nonnutritive)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Stevia",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "~0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~300×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (named)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Usually mostly erythritol",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Monk fruit",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "~0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~200×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (as NSS)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Usually mostly erythritol",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Fermented Reb M (OnoSweet®)",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "~0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~250×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (as NSS)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "None of the below",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (named)"
    },
    {
      "sweetener": "Neotame",
      "family": "High-intensity",
      "calories_per_g": "~0",
      "glycemic_index": "Negligible",
      "is_sugar": "No",
      "browns_bakes": "No",
      "adds_bulk": "No",
      "sweetness_vs_sugar": "~10,000×",
      "added_sugar_us_label": "No",
      "who_2023_advisory": "Inside (named)",
      "lead_concern_flag": "Gut-model harm (2024); limited human data",
      "california_ab1264": "Listed (nonnutritive)"
    }
  ]
}