Sugar-free candy — what should you consider?

Candy is one of life's great joys – but it doesn't have to come with a sugar bomb attached. Interest in sugar-free candy has exploded in recent years, but what exactly are you buying when you choose the sugar-free option?

What does "sugar-free" mean?

In Sweden and the EU, a food product can be called sugar-free if it contains less than 0.5 g of sugar per 100 g. This means that sugar-free candy is rarely completely without sweetness – instead, sweeteners are used.

Common sweeteners in sugar-free candy

• Maltitol – most common in chocolate and hard candies. High sweetness but can cause stomach upset in large quantities.
• Xylitol – natural sugar from birch trees. Good for teeth. Toxic to dogs.
• Erythritol – close to zero calories, well tolerated by most stomachs.
• Stevia – plant-based and natural. Can have a slightly bitter taste in high doses.
• Sorbitol, maltitol – sugar alcohols with fewer calories than sugar but can cause stomach upset.

What should you consider when buying?

1. Read the ingredient list – "sugar-free" doesn't always apply to total carbohydrates
2. Portion size – sugar alcohols can cause digestive problems in large amounts
3. Calories – sugar-free doesn't necessarily mean calorie-free
4. Additives – preferably buy candy with few and known ingredients

Natural alternatives

The best sugar-free candy is often natural – freeze-dried fruit has no added sugar and tastes intensely sweet thanks to the concentrated natural sugar content. The same applies to dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage.

Check out Cofá's range of healthier candy and freeze-dried fruit as natural candy alternatives.