Allulose on the FDA Nutrition Label: What Changed in 2019

Allulose on the FDA Nutrition Label: What Changed in 2019

In April 2019, the FDA issued a guidance document that changed how allulose appears on food labels. This was a landmark decision that affected manufacturers, consumers, and the entire alternative sweetener industry. Here's what happened and why it matters.

The Problem Before 2019

Before the FDA's guidance, allulose was treated like any other sugar on the Nutrition Facts label. This meant:

• Allulose was counted in Total Carbohydrates
• Allulose was counted in Total Sugars
• Allulose was counted in Added Sugars

This was a problem because allulose has essentially zero caloric impact and zero glycemic impact. Counting it alongside real sugars was misleading — it made products containing allulose look higher in sugar and carbs than they actually were metabolically.

For example, an ice cream sweetened with allulose instead of sugar would show a similar "Total Sugars" number on the label, even though the allulose version had zero blood sugar impact. Consumers trying to limit sugar had no way to distinguish metabolically active sugar from allulose on the label.

The 2019 FDA Guidance

The FDA's April 2019 guidance stated that allulose:

1. Can be excluded from Total Sugars
2. Can be excluded from Added Sugars
3. Should be included in Total Carbohydrates (but at 0.4 calories per gram instead of 4 calories per gram)
4. Must still be listed in the ingredients

Why This Matters

For consumers: Products sweetened with allulose now accurately reflect their metabolic reality. A cookie made with allulose shows 0g added sugars instead of incorrectly showing the same sugar content as a regular cookie.

For manufacturers: Companies can now create products that truthfully market as "0g added sugar" while using allulose for sweetness. This removed a major barrier to allulose adoption in the food industry.

For the industry: The ruling signaled the FDA's acknowledgment that not all sugars are metabolically equivalent — a significant shift in nutritional science thinking.

How to Read Labels With Allulose

What You'll See

Nutrition Facts Panel:

• Total Carbohydrates: Allulose may or may not be included (guidance says it can be included at 0.4 cal/g, or the manufacturer may subtract it)
• Total Sugars: Allulose is NOT included
• Added Sugars: Allulose is NOT included

Ingredients List:

• Allulose will still appear here. Look for "allulose," "D-psicose," or "rare sugar" in the ingredients.

A Practical Example

Consider a sugar-free chocolate bar:

• Ingredients: Cocoa butter, allulose, milk powder, cocoa mass, vanilla
• Total Carbohydrates: 15g (this might include allulose counted at 0.4 cal/g)
• Total Sugars: 0g (allulose excluded)
• Added Sugars: 0g (allulose excluded)
• Allulose: 12g (some brands voluntarily list this separately)

Without understanding the 2019 ruling, you might look at 15g total carbs and be confused. With the context, you understand that 12g of those carbs are allulose (metabolically inactive) and only 3g are traditional carbs.

The Caloric Value Question

The FDA assigned allulose 0.4 calories per gram for labeling purposes. This is their conservative estimate based on the small amount of allulose that may be partially metabolized.

Different countries assign different values:

• FDA (US): 0.4 kcal/g
• Japan: 0 kcal/g
• Canada: 0.2 kcal/g
• EU: Not yet approved for labeling

The practical difference is minimal. At 0.4 cal/g, a teaspoon of allulose (about 4g) provides 1.6 calories — nutritionally insignificant.

Impact on the Food Industry

The labeling guidance triggered a wave of product development:

Before 2019

• Few manufacturers used allulose (labeling disadvantage)
• Products with allulose looked "high sugar" on labels
• Consumer confusion about what the sugar numbers meant

After 2019

• Major food companies began reformulating with allulose
• "0g added sugar" claims became possible for allulose-sweetened products
• New product launches accelerated dramatically
• Allulose appeared in ice cream, beverages, baked goods, syrups, candy, protein bars, and more

Notable Product Categories

• Ice cream: Several brands launched allulose-based "no sugar added" ice cream
• Beverages: Energy drinks, teas, and flavored waters using allulose
• Baking mixes: Cake, cookie, and pancake mixes featuring allulose
• Syrups: Maple-style and chocolate syrups with zero added sugars
• Protein bars: Bars sweetened with allulose instead of sugar alcohols

Controversies and Criticisms

"It's Still a Carbohydrate"

Some critics argue that excluding allulose from total carbs is misleading because it IS technically a carbohydrate molecule. The FDA's position is that because it's not metabolized for energy, counting it equally with metabolically active carbohydrates is MORE misleading.

Net Carb Confusion

The concept of "net carbs" (total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols) was already confusing to consumers. Adding allulose as another carbohydrate that "doesn't count" has complicated things further. Better consumer education is needed.

International Inconsistency

The lack of global harmonization on allulose labeling creates confusion. A product might show different nutritional values depending on which country's label you're reading. This particularly affects international brands and online purchases.

Reading Labels: Quick Guide

When evaluating a product containing allulose:

1. Check the ingredients list for "allulose" — this confirms the product contains it
2. Look at Added Sugars — this will be 0g if allulose is the only sweetener
3. Check Total Carbohydrates — some of this may be allulose (metabolically inactive)
4. Look for voluntary allulose disclosure — some brands list allulose separately (not required)
5. Calculate net impact carbs — Total Carbs minus fiber, minus allulose = your metabolically relevant carb count

What's Next

The FDA's 2019 guidance was technically a draft guidance — it hasn't been finalized as a formal regulation. However, the FDA has consistently upheld this position and manufacturers have broadly adopted it.

Future developments may include:

• Formal finalization of the guidance as regulation
• International harmonization of allulose labeling standards
• EU approval and labeling framework for allulose
• Potential mandatory separate disclosure of allulose amounts

The 2019 ruling was a pivotal moment for allulose adoption. By allowing labels to accurately reflect allulose's metabolic reality, the FDA removed the biggest barrier to mainstream use and kicked off the allulose boom we're experiencing today.