compound
Fructose
Fructose is a simple sugar found in fruit, honey, some vegetables and added sugars.
Educational draft · Human scientific and editorial review pending. About review status
It is absorbed and metabolised differently from glucose; foods and mixtures provide the relevant context.
Food sources
Per 100 g| Food | Per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Red Delicious apple, raw | 7.81 g |
| Banana, ripe, raw | 6.09 g |
| Blueberries, raw | 4.94 g |
| Strawberries, raw | 2.62 g |
| Navel orange, raw | 2.36 g |
Show 7 more foods
| Food | Per 100 g |
|---|---|
| Canned diced tomatoes | 1.49 g |
| Carrots, frozen and unprepared | 1.05 g |
| Pie pumpkin, raw | 0.98 g |
| Orange sweet potato, peeled and raw | 0.93 g |
| Russet potato, raw | 0.29 g |
| Hummus, commercial | 0.15 g |
| Spinach, raw (SR Legacy 2018) | 0.15 g |
About these amounts
These values describe the named food and preparation. A 100 g comparison is not a suggested serving. Small amounts are rounded for display; an unreported amount is not zero.
Portions recorded by the source
- Canned diced tomatoes: 1 cup (245 g) — 3.65 g.
- Hummus, commercial: 2 tablespoon (33.9 g) — 0.05 g.
The source records and EFSA guidance are linked in References below.
How it works
A different simple sugar
Fructose is a monosaccharide and part of the disaccharide sucrose. Fructose, glucose and fibre enter distinct digestion and metabolism pathways even when they occur in the same food.
Related topics
Fructose is present in Sucrose.
Sucrose is a disaccharide made from glucose and fructose.
Evidence: Established · Source checked 2026-09-05 · Sources: European Food Safety Authority: Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for carbohydrates and dietary fibre
Worth knowing
It is part of sucrose. Digesting sucrose releases glucose and fructose, which are then handled as separate monosaccharides.
Fruit and beverages are different matrices. Whole fruit contains water and fibre alongside fructose, whereas a sweetened beverage presents sugars in a different food form.
A closer look
Food form matters
Whole fruit presents fructose with water, fibre and other food components, whereas a sweetened beverage presents sugars in a different food matrix.
Evidence depends on the comparison
EFSA assessed fructose against glucose and assessed sugar-sweetened beverages separately, showing why a sugar molecule and a food source are different questions.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.
- European Food Safety Authority (opens in new tab)Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for carbohydrates and dietary fibreChecked 2026-09-05
- European Food Safety Authority (opens in new tab)Tolerable upper intake level for dietary sugarsChecked 2026-09-05
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (opens in new tab)FoodData Central Foundation Foods, April 2026 JSON releaseChecked 2026-09-05
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (opens in new tab)FoodData Central SR Legacy, April 2018 JSON releaseChecked 2026-09-05