You know the one. A can at 2pm feels great. By half past three you're flatter than when you started.
Low sugar is one of the simplest ways to dodge that. But "low sugar" on the front of a can isn't marketing fluff. It's a regulated claim with a number behind it.
What "low sugar" means in Australia
Under the Food Standards Code, a food that claims to be low sugar can't contain more than 2.5g of sugar per 100mL of liquid. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) sets that rule.
On a 330mL can, 2.5g per 100mL works out to 8.25g of sugar at the most. Anything above that can't call itself low sugar.
Other claims have their own rules. FSANZ says there are separate requirements for claims such as "reduced sugar", "no added sugar" and "unsweetened". Don't assume they all mean the same thing.
How to check any can in 30 seconds
- Turn the can over and find the nutrition information panel.
- Look at the per 100mL column, not the per can one. It lets you compare cans of different sizes.
- Find "sugars". Compare it to 2.5g.
- Remember that total sugars includes sugar that's naturally in the food as well as added sugar.
- Read the ingredient list to see what's doing the sweetening.
Why it matters on a long shift
A big hit of sugar can feel good for a while, then drop you. That's the sugar crash, and it tends to arrive when you can least afford it, around the afternoon dip. We explain why that dip happens in the afternoon slump on a long shift.
Keeping sugar low takes that crash out of the picture. The long day is still long. You don't add a drop on top of it.
Low sugar still has to taste good
A low sugar can still needs something to sweeten it, and it still has to be a drink you'd actually finish. Taste is what matters most, and it's the first thing our reviewers bring up.
One TILT customer wrote: "Great flavours without being overly sweet." TILT is naturally sweetened and low sugar, with no artificial colours or preservatives. The full ingredient list is on the can.
Sugar is one number. Caffeine is another.
A low sugar drink isn't automatically a low caffeine drink. Check both. Energy drinks in Australia fall under their own standard, and we walk through it in what the energy drink rules say.
Where TILT fits
TILT is low sugar, so there's no sugar crash waiting for you at knock-off. It's built for the back half of the shift: caffeine with L-theanine, to help keep your attention on the task. Locked in, with a clear head.
Your first slab comes with a Bonus Mixed 8 Pack. Got questions about what's in the can? The FAQ covers it.
FAQ
What counts as a low sugar energy drink in Australia?
Under the Food Standards Code, a food claiming to be low sugar can't contain more than 2.5g of sugar per 100mL of liquid.
Is low sugar the same as no added sugar?
No. They're separate claims with separate requirements. Low sugar is about the sugars in the drink. No added sugar is about what was added.
How do I check the sugar in an energy drink?
Turn the can over and find the nutrition information panel. Use the per 100mL column to compare drinks of different sizes, and remember total sugars includes sugars that occur naturally.
Is TILT sugar free?
No. TILT is low sugar and naturally sweetened. The full ingredient list and nutrition panel are on the can.
This article is general information. Always read the label on the product you buy.
Built for the shift. See TILT.
For the label readers: 3.7g of sugar (1.1g per 100mL), 18 calories, 105.6mg of natural caffeine and 198mg of L-theanine in a 330ml can. Vegan and gluten-free. No artificial colours or preservatives. Every ingredient and milligram is printed on the can. Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women, or individuals sensitive to caffeine. Consume no more than 1 can per day.