Genesee · Answer · Updated 2026-09-29
Is honey better than sugar in a protein bar?
For labeling, honey is added sugar: FDA's rule counts sugars from syrups and honey, so a honey-sweetened bar reports them on the Added Sugars line. Per 100g, USDA lists honey at about 82g total sugars and granulated sugar at about 99.8g, so honey delivers slightly less sugar by weight.
This page compares the labeling rule and the composition data. It does not rank the two sweeteners for health, because that depends on the whole diet and on personal context rather than on one ingredient.
Does honey count as added sugar on a Nutrition Facts label?
Yes. FDA's added-sugars rule covers sugars added during the processing of foods and expressly includes sugars from syrups and honey, and FDA's consumer page names honey among single-ingredient sugars and syrups. A bar sweetened with honey therefore reports those grams on the Added Sugars line, and they count toward the 50g Daily Value.
How do honey and granulated sugar compare by weight?
USDA FoodData Central lists honey at 82.12g total sugars and 17.1g water per 100g, and granulated sugar at 99.8g total sugars and 0.02g water per 100g. Honey's water content means a gram of honey delivers a little less sugar than a gram of table sugar; both remain concentrated sugars by any label measure.
Do honey and table sugar contain the same sugars?
Not exactly. The same USDA records show honey's sugars are mostly fructose (40.94g per 100g) and glucose (35.75g per 100g), with smaller amounts of sucrose, maltose, and galactose, while granulated sugar is 99.8g sucrose per 100g. A composition difference is a fair thing to notice; it is not a reason to describe either one as sugar-free.
Which sweeteners do Genesee bars use?
Genesee lists raw honey in every current flavor, plus coconut sugar in Coffee Latte's chocolate chips and cane sugar in White Chocolate Toffee's white-chocolate chips. The bars are not low in sugar: current labels list 12-14g total sugars and 11-13g added sugars per 60g bar, depending on flavor, which is 22-26% of the added-sugars Daily Value. Every flavor contains milk and peanuts, and White Chocolate Toffee also contains soy. Recipes and labels can change. Check the package you receive for the current ingredients, nutrition facts, allergens, and caffeine disclosure.
Common questions
Does honey count as added sugar?
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Yes. FDA's added-sugars rule includes sugars from syrups and honey, so honey-sweetened foods still declare those grams on the Added Sugars line of the Nutrition Facts panel.
Is honey a healthier choice than sugar?
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This page does not rank them. It compares the labeling rule and USDA composition data. For personal dietary advice, ask a registered dietitian or another qualified professional.
Is honey lower in calories than sugar?
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Per 100g, USDA lists honey at 304 calories with 82.12g total sugars, and granulated sugar at 387 calories with 99.8g total sugars. Honey's water content explains most of that gap rather than any special property.
Are Genesee bars sweetened with honey low in sugar?
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No. Current labels list 12-14g total sugars and 11-13g added sugars per 60g bar, which is 22-26% of the added-sugars Daily Value, the range FDA's label guide calls high per serving.
Deep dives: Tallow protein bars · Seed-oil-free protein bars
Keep reading: Snickerdoodle: sweetened with raw honey
Sources
- Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label. US Food and Drug Administration. Checked 2026-09-28.
- 21 CFR 101.9(c)(6)(iii): Added sugars. eCFR (US Code of Federal Regulations). Checked 2026-09-29.
- FoodData Central: Honey (SR Legacy, fdcId 169640). USDA Agricultural Research Service. Checked 2026-09-29.
- FoodData Central: Sugars, granulated (SR Legacy, fdcId 169655). USDA Agricultural Research Service. Checked 2026-09-29.