Updated 13 October 2026: This article has been reviewed and revised for clarity and label-reading accuracy.
Two sugar entries on a Nutrition Facts label do not represent two amounts that should be added together. The smaller category sits inside the larger one. Reading that relationship correctly helps you avoid overstating the amount in a serving.
The FDA’s added-sugars guide explains that Total Sugars includes naturally occurring and added sugars. The word “includes” signals that the added amount is already counted in the total. Added Sugars and Total Sugars are different categories, not two different servings.
Work through one invented label
Imagine a flavored food with 12 grams of total sugars per serving, including 7 grams of added sugars. The serving contains 12 grams of sugar in total, not 19. Subtracting 7 from 12 leaves 5 grams attributed to the remaining sugars in this simplified example.
| Amount of food | Total sugars | Added sugars included |
|---|---|---|
| One serving | 12 g | 7 g |
| Two servings | 24 g | 14 g |
The same relationship holds for two servings: 14 grams of added sugars is part of the 24-gram total. Adding the columns would count the added portion twice. If you keep a food note, record the two categories in separate named fields so that a later calculation does not accidentally combine them.
Keep the percentage attached to its category
The FDA lists a Daily Value of 50 grams for added sugars in its standard label reference; it does not set a Daily Value for total sugars. In the invented example, 7 divided by 50 is 14%. That percentage refers to the added sugars, not to all 12 grams of total sugars and not to the proportion of the food’s weight.
A percentage without its row label loses this meaning. If you copy “14%” into a comparison sheet, also copy “Added Sugars,” the serving amount and the source. Do not fill a blank total-sugars percentage with an invented zero.
Recognize a different format on a single-ingredient sweetener
Honey, maple syrup and other single-ingredient sugars can use a different presentation. The FDA describes an added-sugars %DV with gram information and explanatory context that may appear in a footnote. This format does not mean that the product is sugar-free, and it does not list separate quantities of individual sugar molecules such as fructose and sucrose.
Read the entry and any marked footnote together. If a screenshot cuts the bottom off the panel, find the full label before deciding what the missing text says. For a difficult format, use the FDA’s illustrated explanation rather than guessing from a familiar label on another food.
Make the comparison you actually intend
Choose your question before comparing products: are you comparing total sugars, added sugars or amounts in different portions? Use the same category and food quantity on both sides. A lower added-sugars number alone does not answer every question about the food, its ingredients or its suitability for an individual.
A clear note is “This serving lists 12 g total sugars, including 7 g added.” It preserves the relationship without declaring a universal best choice or turning a labeling reference into a personal dietary instruction.
Source
FDA: Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label. All worked figures above are fictional arithmetic examples.
