Methodology
Last updated: November 3, 2026
Data sources
Our primary source is Open Food Facts (ODbL license), a community-maintained open database of packaged food products. We filter to US products and update our catalog weekly.
Where Open Food Facts is missing added sugar data, we cross-reference USDA FoodData Central and product labels. Every product page shows its data source and the date it was last verified.
Tier rules
Tier A - total_sugar < 0.5g/serving (FDA 21 CFR 101.60)
Tier B - added_sugar = 0g/serving; total_sugar ≥ 0.5g
Tier C - added_sugar > 0 and ≤ 3g/serving
Tier D - added_sugar > 3 and ≤ 5g/serving
Tier E - added_sugar > 5g/serving
When a product lacks an added sugar field, we use total sugar as an upper bound. This is conservative - it over-penalizes products where all sugar is natural (e.g. fruit pouches). We mark these with "added sugar not recorded" on the product page.
Primary references
- FDA (2016). Food Labeling: Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels. Federal Register, 81 FR 33742. 21 CFR 101.
- Vos MB, et al. (2017). Added Sugars and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 135(19).
- Heyman MB, Abrams SA; AAP (2017). Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations. Pediatrics, 139(6).
- USDA/HHS (2020). Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. 9th Edition.
Serving size
We always compute per the label serving size - never per 100g. If we can't parse the serving size to grams, we don't publish a tier for that product.
Correction policy
Found an error? Email contact@sugarcheckforkids.com with the product name, the incorrect value, and a label photo or source link. We'll review within 48 hours and note corrections on the product page.