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Sugar Free Sweets and Kids:
A Parent's Label Guide
What the labels legally mean, what the AAP, AHA and WHO have published on sugars and sweeteners, and what a parent can check for themselves
What the Published Guidance Actually Says
This page does not tell you what to give your child. It sets out what the labels mean and what the published guidance says, so the judgement stays where it belongs, with you.
- +Sugar free is a legally defined claim: no more than 0.5g of sugars per 100g. No added sugar means none was added and any sugars present occur naturally in the ingredients
- +The American Heart Association puts added sugars at no more than 25g, six teaspoons, a day for children aged 2 to 18, and advises avoiding them entirely below age 2
- +The WHO recommends free sugars below 10 percent of total daily energy, and suggests below 5 percent for a further benefit
- +The AAP 2019 policy statement on nonnutritive sweeteners in children concluded that long term effects are not yet well studied and called for clearer labelling of how much a product contains
- +Polyols are absorbed slowly, which is the point of using them. Packs containing more than 10 percent polyols carry the note that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects
- +Read the pack. The ingredient list names the sweetener, the panel carries the sugars and polyols figures, and some packs state an age on them
Your child reaches for a sweet. You pick up the pack labelled "sugar free" and turn it over. What that claim means in law, what the ingredient list is telling you, and what the published guidance covers are three separate questions, and the front of the pack answers none of them.
This question is being asked by millions of parents worldwide, and for good reason. Sugar consumption among children has reached alarming levels. According to the CDC, the average daily intake of added sugars among children and young adults aged 2 to 19 was 17 teaspoons per day in 2017 to 2018, nearly three times the limit recommended by the American Heart Association.
This guide covers what the labels legally mean, which sweeteners are used and how they are regulated, what the AAP, AHA and WHO have actually published, and which lines on a pack are worth reading. It does not rate any product for any child. That call is yours, and your paediatrician or dietitian is the person to bring it to.
This guide references published guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Heart Association (AHA), the FDA, the WHO, and peer-reviewed research. It is general information, not advice about any individual child. Always consult your physician or registered dietitian for personalised dietary advice.
Why Parents Are Looking for Sugar-Free Alternatives
The Problem with Too Much Sugar in Children's Diets
Sugar is not simply an empty calorie. In excessive amounts, it actively damages children's developing bodies. The evidence from global health authorities is consistent and compelling.
The American Heart Association recommends that children consume no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day. A single 12-ounce can of soda contains roughly 40 grams of sugar, well over the entire daily limit in one drink. A 2024 study published in The BMJ found that young people globally consumed nearly 23% more sugar-sweetened beverages in 2018 compared to 1990.
The consequences of regularly exceeding this limit include:
- Dental caries, since sugars feed the oral bacteria that produce enamel eroding acid
- Excess energy intake, because sugary foods are energy dense and quick to eat
- Nutritional displacement, where sugary foods crowd out the vitamins and minerals children need for growth
- The cardiovascular risk factors the American Heart Association sets out in its 2016 scientific statement on added sugars in children, including blood pressure and blood lipids
Why Children Are Biologically Wired to Crave Sweetness
A child who reaches for sweet things is not evidence of a parenting failure. Research consistently shows that young children are biologically predisposed to prefer sweet and salty flavours and to reject sour and bitter ones. Sweetness was historically a reliable signal of caloric density, which is why the preference shows up so early.
One of the most common mistakes parents make is using sweets as a reward, which teaches children to associate sugar with comfort and positive reinforcement. Treating sweets neutrally, as just one of many flavours, helps keep them from acquiring the special status that makes them so hard to resist later in life.
What "Sugar Free" Actually Means on a Label
This is the most important piece of label literacy every parent needs. "Sugar free," "no added sugar," and "reduced sugar" are three very different claims and the difference matters significantly when buying sweets for children.
| Label | What It Means | What to Check on the Pack |
|---|---|---|
| No Added Sugar | No sugars added during processing. Any sugars in the panel occur naturally in the ingredients, for example in milk powder or fruit. | The sugars line on the nutrition panel, and the ingredient list showing where that sweetness comes from. |
| Sugar Free | No more than 0.5g of sugars per 100g. Sweetness comes from authorised sweeteners, which the ingredient list has to name. | Which sweetener is named, and whether the pack carries the polyol note. |
| Reduced Sugar | At least 30% less sugar than the comparable standard product. It can still be a high sugar food. | Total sugars per 100g, not the percentage claim on the front. |
| Unsweetened | No sweetener of any kind added, neither sugar nor a sweetener. | The ingredient list, since naturally sweet ingredients such as fruit can still be present. |
All four claims are legally defined and all four appear on packs sold in the UK. They describe sugars content, not the nutritional value of the food as a whole.
Every sweetener in a product has to appear in the ingredient list by name or E number, so that list settles what is actually in the pack. The claim on the front tells you about sugars only. Read both, and check the nutrition panel for the sugars and polyols figures.
The Sweeteners Used in Place of Sugar
Sweeteners fall into three broad groups, and the ingredient list tells you which group you are dealing with.
Plant Derived Sweeteners and the Low Intensity Polyols
These four turn up most often in confectionery made without added sugar. Each is authorised for use in Great Britain and the EU, and stevia and monk fruit are recognised as safe (GRAS) in the United States.
| Sweetener | Source | Regulatory Status | Glycemic Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevia | Stevia rebaudiana plant | E960 in GB and the EU, GRAS in the US | 0 | Steviol glycosides are intensely sweet, so inclusion rates are tiny. The Diablo bars that use them list them at 0.02%. |
| Monk Fruit | Monk fruit extract (mogrosides) | GRAS in the US | 0 | A high intensity sweetener with a clean sweet taste. Less widely available in the UK than stevia. |
| Erythritol | Fermented corn or fruit | E968 in GB and the EU | 0 to 1 | A polyol, around 70% as sweet as sugar, largely absorbed and excreted unchanged. A 2023 Cleveland Clinic study raised preliminary cardiovascular questions that are not yet confirmed. |
| Xylitol | Birch bark or corn cobs | E967 in GB and the EU | 7 to 13 | A polyol, about as sweet as sugar, labelled at 2.4 kcal per gram. Xylitol is toxic to dogs, so any product containing it needs storing out of reach of pets. |
Polyols and How They Behave
Polyols, also called sugar alcohols, include sorbitol, maltitol, isomalt, xylitol and erythritol. They are the bulk sweeteners in most confectionery made without added sugar, from chocolate to gummies to mints, and GB and EU labelling rules assign them 2.4 kcal per gram against 4 kcal for sugar.
Polyols are absorbed slowly, which is the point of using them. Packs containing more than 10 percent polyols carry the note that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects, and a few pieces at a time is the sensible way in while the gut adjusts. Portions scale with body weight, so a child's portion is a smaller one than an adult's.
- Start with a small portion the first time a polyol sweetened product appears in the house, and let the gut adjust from there
- Read the polyol note. Any pack above 10 percent polyols must state that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects, and that statement is a labelling requirement rather than a comment on any one brand
- The polyols figure sits on the nutrition panel under carbohydrate, separate from the sugars line, so both are there to read
- Consumption of foods containing maltitol instead of sugar induces a lower blood glucose rise after their consumption compared to sugar-containing foods. That is the one claim the GB register permits for maltitol, and it is the only one worth relying on
- If a child has a diagnosed digestive condition or any dietary plan set by a clinician, that clinician is the person to ask about polyols
High Intensity Sweeteners and What the AAP Says
This group includes sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal), saccharin and acesulfame potassium (Ace-K). They are authorised as food additives, each with an Acceptable Daily Intake set on body weight, and published intake estimates for children sit well below those figures.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics, in its 2019 policy statement on nonnutritive sweeteners in children, stated that more research is needed to understand long-term effects, particularly related to weight management, gut microbiome changes, and taste preference development in childhood.
Children with phenylketonuria (PKU) must strictly avoid aspartame, which contains phenylalanine. Always check the label for the warning "contains a source of phenylalanine" before giving any sugar-free product to a child. If your child has PKU, discuss all sweetener choices with your healthcare provider.
Sweetener Reference Table
| Sweetener | Type | GI Score | Regulatory Status | What the Label Carries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stevia | High intensity, plant derived | 0 | E960, GRAS in the US | Declared as steviol glycosides or E960 in the ingredient list |
| Monk Fruit | High intensity, plant derived | 0 | GRAS in the US | Declared as monk fruit or luo han guo extract. Less common on UK packs |
| Xylitol | Polyol | 7 to 13 | E967 | Counts towards the polyols figure. Toxic to dogs, so packs need storing out of reach of pets |
| Erythritol | Polyol | 0 to 1 | E968 | Counts towards the polyols figure. Preliminary cardiovascular research from 2023 is not yet confirmed |
| Sorbitol | Polyol | 9 | E420 | Counts towards the polyols figure. Above 10 percent polyols the pack states that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects |
| Maltitol | Polyol | 35 | E965 | Counts towards the polyols figure. The GB register permits one claim: consumption of foods containing maltitol instead of sugar induces a lower blood glucose rise after their consumption compared to sugar-containing foods |
| Sucralose | High intensity | 0 | E955 | Declared as sucralose or E955. Carries an EFSA acceptable daily intake |
| Aspartame | High intensity | 0 | E951 | Packs must state that it contains a source of phenylalanine, which matters to anyone with PKU |
Sources: GB and EU authorised sweetener lists, FDA GRAS notices and food additive regulations, GB nutrition and health claims register, Mayo Clinic. GI values are published reference figures and vary by product.
What the Published Guidance Says on Sugars and Sweeteners
The guidance below is about sugars and sweeteners in the diet generally. None of it rates a product, and none of it replaces the advice of the clinician who knows your child.
Added Sugars
The American Heart Association and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans both advise avoiding foods and drinks with added sugars entirely before age 2.
The AHA Figure
No more than 25g of added sugars a day, six teaspoons, across the whole age band. The CDC puts current average intake at around 17 teaspoons.
The WHO Figure
Free sugars below 10 percent of total daily energy, with a suggested further reduction to below 5 percent.
The AAP Position
Its 2019 policy statement concluded that the long term effects of nonnutritive sweeteners in children are not yet well studied, and called for labels to state how much a product contains.
Age Statements
Some packs carry their own age statement. The Diablo 85g chocolate bars, for instance, state that they are not suitable for children under 3 years of age.
Children managing diabetes have specific dietary needs that require personalised medical guidance. For any dietary changes including the introduction of sugar-free confectionery, always consult your child's paediatric endocrinologist or registered dietitian. A healthcare professional can advise on which sweeteners and products are appropriate for your child's individual management plan.
What the Experts Say: AAP, FDA, WHO, and AHA Guidelines
| Authority | Key Recommendation for Children |
|---|---|
| American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) | Its 2019 policy statement on nonnutritive sweeteners in children concluded that long term effects on weight, the gut microbiome and taste preference are not yet well studied, and called for product labels to state how much of a sweetener a product contains. |
| FDA (United States) | High intensity sweeteners are authorised as food additives with an Acceptable Daily Intake set for each on body weight. Steviol glycosides and monk fruit extract are covered by GRAS notices rather than additive approvals. |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | Recommends free sugars below 10% of total daily energy, and suggests a further reduction to below 5%. The recommendation covers sugars, not the confectionery category. |
| American Heart Association (AHA) | Children aged 2 to 18 should consume no more than 25g (6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day. Added sugar should be avoided entirely for children under 2. Strong evidence links added sugar to increased cardiovascular disease risk factors in children. |
| Cleveland Clinic | Advises limiting beverages containing nonnutritive sweeteners for children, and building long term habits around whole foods with minimal added sugars of any kind. |
What Actually Changes When the Added Sugar Comes Out
Removing added sugar from a confectionery recipe changes some specific things on the label. It is worth being precise about which.
- The sugars figure. A sugar free product carries no more than 0.5g of sugars per 100g. A no added sugar product has none added, and whatever the panel shows occurs naturally in ingredients such as milk powder or fruit.
- The energy figure. Polyols are labelled at 2.4 kcal per gram against 4 kcal per gram for sugar, so the energy line is usually lower than the conventional equivalent. It is rarely zero, and the panel gives the number.
- The free sugars total. Free sugars are what the AHA and WHO figures are about. A product with no added sugars contributes less to that daily total than a conventional one of the same weight.
- The polyols line. A new line appears on the nutrition panel under carbohydrate, and a note appears on packs above 10 percent polyols. Neither exists on a conventional sweet.
- What does not change. Confectionery is still confectionery. It is not a source of fibre, vitamins or minerals, and the panel shows exactly what it does contain.
What the Label Tells You, and What It Does Not
A claim on the front of a pack answers one narrow question. These are the things it does not answer, and where the answers actually sit.
- Portion size. A sugars claim says nothing about how much of something is a portion. Polyols are absorbed slowly, which is the point, and a few pieces at a time lets the gut adjust. Portions scale with body weight, so a child's is smaller.
- Energy. The claim is about sugars, not calories. The energy figure is on the nutrition panel, per 100g and usually per portion as well.
- Nutritional content. Confectionery of any kind is not a source of fibre, vitamins or minerals. The ingredient list and panel are the record of what is in it, including any colours and flavourings.
- PKU and aspartame. Packs containing aspartame must state that they contain a source of phenylalanine. If a child has phenylketonuria, that statement is the line to look for.
- Colour declarations. In GB and the EU, six specific food colours carry the mandatory statement that they "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". If a product contains one, the pack has to say so.
- Age statements. Some packs carry one of their own, separate from any general guidance. Where a pack states an age, it is there to be followed.
A sugars claim is a statement about sugars, not a portion instruction. Every published framework treats confectionery of any kind as an occasional food, and puts whole fruits, vegetables and naturally low sugar foods at the base of a child's diet. How that applies in your house is your call, and your paediatrician or dietitian is the person to bring the specifics to.
How to Read the Label on Any Sweet
Here is what a parent can establish from a pack in about thirty seconds, whatever the brand.
What to Look For on the Label
- Which claim is on the front? Sugar free means no more than 0.5g of sugars per 100g. No added sugar means none was added, and any sugars in the panel occur naturally in the ingredients.
- Which sweetener is named in the ingredient list? Every sweetener has to be declared there, by name or E number.
- Does it contain aspartame? Packs that do must state that they contain a source of phenylalanine, which is the line that matters if a child has PKU.
- Does the pack carry the polyol note? Above 10 percent polyols it must, and a small portion to start with is the sensible way in.
- Which colours and flavourings are listed? Six colours carry the mandatory statement about activity and attention in children in GB and the EU.
- What is the stated portion size? Compare the per portion figures with the per 100g figures, because the two answer different questions.
- Is there an age statement on the pack? Some products carry one, and it is there to be followed.
Details Worth a Second Look
- A pack listing aspartame without the mandatory phenylalanine statement, since that statement is a legal requirement
- The polyols line on the nutrition panel, which sits under carbohydrate and is separate from the sugars line
- Colour declarations, and whether the pack carries the required statement about activity and attention in children
- Very long ingredient lists, simply because they take longer to check against anything a clinician has told you to avoid
- Per portion figures that bear no relation to how the product is realistically eaten
- Any dietary plan a paediatrician or dietitian has already written for your child, which outranks everything on this page
What Is in the Diablo Range
Diablo Sugar Free is a confectionery brand that sweetens with polyols and steviol glycosides instead of adding sugar. The range splits into two: Sugar Free products contain no more than 0.5g of sugars per 100g, and No Added Sugar products have no sugar added, with any sugars in the panel occurring naturally in ingredients such as milk powder or fruit.
Diablo chocolates, cookies and sweets span both the Sugar Free (SF) and No Added Sugar (NAS) ranges, sweetened using polyols and steviol glycosides. Every product lists its ingredients and a full nutrition panel, and packs above 10 percent polyols carry the note that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects.
The range includes chocolates, gummies, hard candies, cookies and seasonal lines. Some products carry their own age statement: the 85g chocolate bars, for example, state that they are not suitable for children under 3 years of age.
Diablo products are stocked by health food stores, online grocery platforms and specialist retailers. Whether any of them belongs in your child's diet is a decision for you, on the evidence of the pack and any advice you have already been given.
Nothing here rates a Diablo product, or any other product, for a child. The pack carries the ingredient list, the nutrition panel, the polyol note and any age statement, and those are the facts. The judgement about your own child is yours to make, and if a paediatrician, dietitian or specialist nurse is already involved in their diet, theirs is the advice that takes precedence.
As with all confectionery, sugar free or otherwise, portion sizes are worth watching, particularly with younger children, and sweets sit alongside nutritious whole foods rather than in place of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
References and Sources
- Baker-Smith C, et al. The Use of Nonnutritive Sweeteners in Children. American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2019. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2765
- American Heart Association. Added Sugars and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Children: A Scientific Statement. Circulation. 2016.
- CDC. Get the Facts: Added Sugars. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Updated 2024. cdc.gov/nutrition
- WHO. Reducing Free Sugars Intake in Children to Reduce the Risk of Noncommunicable Diseases. World Health Organization. Updated 2023. who.int
- Lara-Castor L, et al. Sugar-sweetened beverage intake among children and adolescents: global trends, 1990 to 2018. The BMJ. 2024.
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP). The Use of Nonnutritive Sweeteners in Children: Policy Summary. October 2019. healthychildren.org
- Woods L, RDN. Are Sugar Substitutes Safe for Kids? Children's Health. Updated February 2025. childrens.com
- Freeman MD. Are Artificial Sweeteners OK for Kids? Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. 2020. health.clevelandclinic.org
- Mayo Clinic. Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes. Updated January 2026. mayoclinic.org
- EatRight.org (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). Are Artificial Sweeteners Recommended for Kids? Updated 2021. eatright.org
Browse the Diablo Range
Diablo makes chocolates, gummies and sweets with no added sugar, sweetened using polyols and steviol glycosides. Every product lists its ingredients and its full nutrition panel.
Shop Diablo Sugar FreePacks containing more than 10 percent polyols note that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects.