What are sugar sweetened beverages?

Drinks that have sugars added to them during processing or preparation. These added sugars can include sucrose (table sugar), high-fructose corn syrup, honey, or other caloric sweeteners.

A magnifying glass focusing on the word 'SUGAR' surrounded by various food labels and grocery store advertisements.

Common Examples of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages:

  • Coca-Cola, Pepsi

  • Fruit punch, lemonade, not 100% juice

  • Bottled iced tea with sugar

  • Red Bull, Monster

  • Gatorade, Powerade

  • With added sugar

  • Sweetened lattes, frappuccinos

Not Considered SSBs:

  • Naturally contains sugar but no added sugar

  • Like Water

  • Contain artificial sweeteners, not sugar

Regular consumption of SSBs is linked to:

Health Concerns

Obesity

Type 2 diabetes

Heart disease

Dental cavities

Metabolic syndrome

Six bottles of sugar substitute products arranged on a pink background, including brands like Sucrose, Aspartame, Xylitol, Sorbitol, and Socralose.