Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double sugars, are molecules made of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond. Since ancient times, sugar has been a majorly consumed product by humans.

Traditional table sugar, or sucrose, is a disaccharide carbohydrate extracted from sugarcane or sugar beet using physical processes. The majority of the world’s sugar is produced in Asia and South America. Whether through direct consumption or via processed foods, almost everyone, everywhere consumes sugar on a daily basis.