Is maltodextrin an added sugar (on the nutrition facts panel)?
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The answer is: technically, no
This is an interesting question that I have pondered many times. As I explained in my tidbit on dextrin, maltodextrin is a linear polymer of glucose units, typically less than 20 units in length, that are linked by alpha bonds. The alpha linkages are readily digested in the human gastrointestinal tract causing a quick surge in blood sugar. Thus, maltodextrin is a high-glycemic polysaccharide.
Sugar is defined as a mono or disaccharide. That is, one or two units of saccharide (synonymous with sugar). The FDA uses the same definition to define total sugar for the purposes of labeling [“Total sugars shall be defined as the sum of all free mono- and disaccharides (such as glucose, fructose, lactose, and sucrose).”]*. Added sugar is defined similarly [“Added sugars are either added during the processing of foods, or are packaged as such, and include sugars (free, mono- and disaccharides), …”]*.
The original definition proposed by the FDA for added sugars included the phrase “and other caloric sweeteners”. This might have been interpreted to include different forms of saccharides, including longer-chain polysaccharides, such as maltodextrin. However, removal of the phrase and the FDA’s answer to a comment makes it clear that the definition includes only mono and disaccharides. (See Comment 215, page 33837. The FDA states “We have removed this language from the definition of added sugars because caloric sweeteners, which are chemically sugars, are free mono or disaccharides and are captured elsewhere in the definition.”)*
* Federal Register/Vol. 81, No. 103/Friday, May 27, 2016 – pages 33980, 33799, 33837
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-05-27/pdf/FR-2016-05-27.pdf
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So, technically maltodextrin is not an added sugar, as defined by the FDA. It would be included within the total carbohydrate count but would not count towards total or added sugar.
