Sweetener Name

Description

Presence on Whole Foods Market’s “Unacceptable Ingredients in Food” List

(as of March 1, 2012)

Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)

A combination of an organic acid and potassium; 200 times sweeter than sucrose; not broken down by the body; contains 0 calories per gram

Yes

Aspartame

A combination of two amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid); 180 times sweeter than sucrose; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

Yes

Agave

An extract from the agave cactus plant; high in fructose;  can contribute color and flavor; 1.4 to 1.6 times sweeter than sucrose; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Erythritol

A four-carbon sugar alcohol, or polyol; manufactured by the fermentation of corn; about 60% less sweet than sucrose while having a similar bulk density; not fully metabolized; contains 0.2 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Fructose

A monosaccharide known as fruit sugar; a component of sucrose; 1.7 times sweeter than sucrose when tasted alone; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

High-fructose Corn Syrup

A combination of fructose and glucose derived from corn; sweetness similar to or slightly less than sucrose; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

Yes

Honey

A viscous sweetener based on fructose and glucose and produced by bees; sweetness similar to sucrose; can contribute color and flavor; provides solids and moisture; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Isomaltulose

A low-glycemic, tooth-friendly bulk sweetener made from sugar beets; sweetness similar to sucrose; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Molasses

A viscous sweetener produced from sugar cane or sugar beets; up to 30% less sweet than sucrose; can contribute color and flavor; a source of numerous vitamins and minerals; contains 3 to 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Monk Fruit

An extract (mogrosides) from the Siraitia grosvenorii plant; also known as luo han guo; up to 300 times sweeter than sucrose; contains 0 calories per gram

No

Neotame

A combination of two amino acids (phenylalanine and aspartic acid); similar to aspartame; 7,000 to 8,000 times sweeter than sucrose; rapidly metabolized and excreted from body; contains 4 calories per gram

Not specifically, but it is a derivative of aspartame, which is on the list

Polyols

Molecules that resemble both a sugar and alcohol; sweetness levels vary from about 60% less sweet to slightly sweeter than sucrose; contains 0.2 to 3.0 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Saccharin

A chemical known as benzoic sulfilimine; 300 times sweeter than sucrose; not broken down by the body; contains 0 calories per gram

Yes

Stevia

An extract (steviol glycoside known as rebaudioside A, or reb-A) from the Stevia rebaudina plant; 200 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose; contains 0 calories per gram

No

Sucralose

A molecule derived from sucrose; 600 times sweeter than sucrose; not broken down by the body; contains 0 calories per gram

Yes

Sucrose

A disaccharide of fructose and glucose derived from either sugar cane or sugar beets; the sweetness standard that all other sweeteners are compared to; contains 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No

Syrup

A viscous sweetener extracted from various plants or grains, ranging from maple trees to rice kernels; sweetness varies by source, but typically similar to sucrose; contains 3 to 4 calories per gram, on a dry basis

No