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Alexandra Murcier (Liberal dietitian-nutritionist)
In order to counter the excessive consumption of sugars, some people turn to products stamped “without added sugar”. But are they really healthier? UFC-Que Choisir sifted through a hundred and the results published in its January 2023 issue are surprising. The opinion of Alexandra Murcier, dietician nutritionist and member of the committee of experts of Doctissimo.
“No added sugar”, “reduced in sugar”… Claims concerning sugar are not lacking on the packaging of supermarket food products. But are these products really better than those with a more conventional amount of sugar? UFC-Que Choisir has established a comparison and brings to light certain pitfalls.
Less sugar, more fat
“The great classic of these products is that very often manufacturers replace sugar with fats“Explains Alexandra Murcier, dietitian nutritionist, member of the Doctissimo expert committee.
This is the case, for example, of the Karéléa brand sugar-free chocolate bar from Léa Nature, which contains 47% more fat than the Lindt dark chocolate bar with a fleur de sel tip.
Cereals filled with peanut butter Funky Veggie are not very well ranked either, with 42% more fat, just like the organic sandwich bread La Boulangère says “no added sugar”. With 121% more fat than its counterpart from Casino, the reference “contains almost as much lipids as a chocolate Liègeois“ underlines the Union of consumers.
Unhealthy sweeteners
UFC-Que Choisir also notes the presence of additive substances in 0% mint syrup from Carrefour, Light and Free yoghurts or zero peach iced tea from Auchan. The latter may contain sucralose, acesulfame K or aspartame, which could be the cause “harmful effects on health, in particular through a disturbance of the intestinal flora”. “Hence the importance of reading the labels carefully to realize what a product contains” insists the dietician.
And some products, although touted as “no added sugar” remain very sweet, notes the magazine, such as fruit preserves with grape juice, energy bars designed with dried dates or certain vegetable drinks.
Some products are well rated
The UFC Que Choisir therefore recalls that products labeled “no added sugar” or “reduced in sugar” are not necessarily lighter, less sweet or even healthier than others. However, some brands deserve to be praised, such as low-sugar jams (Andros, Bonne Maman Intense) or compotes with no added sugar (Pom’potes, Carrefour Bio, Charles & Alice) which compensate for the absence of sugars with a plus large percentage of fruit.
The Consumers’ Union also applauds Carrefour’s initiative, which offers a sweetened fresh cheese “sonly mixed fruit“.
On the cereal side, it is the muesli, such as the special Jordans muesli or the muesli without added sugar from Bjorg, which have “an irreproachable list of ingredients“.
Provided you respect the quantities indicated on the package, because “we tend to consume more of the products that we consider healthy“explains Alexandra Murcier, who reminds us that it is better to eat a normally sweet product once in a while rather than a so-called light product on a daily basis.