Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

'Boden Food Plate': Novel Interactive Web-based Method for the Assessment of Dietary Intake
Published on: September 18, 2018
Procedure to Estimate Added and Free Sugars in Food Items from the Swedish Food Composition Database Used in the
Julia Wanselius1, Cecilia Axelsson2, Lotta Moraeus3
1Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. julia.wanselius@gu.se.
Abstract:
A high intake of added and free sugars is associated with poor diet quality, caries, and potentially has a role in non-communicable diseases. As a result, dietary guidelines advice limitation. However, there is no standardized method for estimation of added and free sugars in food items and consequently intake is difficult to measure. This study aimed to refine a procedure for sugars estimation and apply it to a Swedish dietary survey on adolescents (Riksmaten Adolescents 2016-17). A national sample of 3099 adolescents in school year 5, 8 and 11 participated (55% girls). Individual dietary intake data from two non-consecutive days was collected retrospectively and used for analysis. A ten-step systematic procedure for estimation of sugars in a Swedish context has been developed by combining two earlier methods, one for estimation of added sugars and one for free sugars. Sugars estimates were made for all food items comprising the survey database. Mainly objective decisions were necessary to make the estimates (92% and 93% for the sugars respectively); meaning that the procedure was largely transparent. In relation to Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, 45% of the participants had an intake that adhered to the guidelines. However, the majority of intakes was close to the recommendation. Further research on how specific food sources contribute to added and free sugars is necessary to facilitate further guidance on sugars and how to reach recommended target levels in Sweden.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Food Intake
Dietary Connections
Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry
Surveys
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions
Phloem and Sugar Transport

