One common question that many people ask is whether sour cream contains sugar. We are here to answer that question and to provide you with how much is in it. Read on to learn more.
Is There Sugar in Sour Cream?
Sour cream contains naturally occurring sugar. However, manufacturers do not typically add sugar to it.
Sour cream is a dairy product that is made by fermenting cream with lactic acid bacteria. During the fermentation process, the bacteria convert lactose, which is a type of sugar found in milk, into lactic acid.
This process gives sour cream its distinctive tangy flavor and thick, creamy texture. It also reduces the amount of natural sugar in sour cream since much of it is converted into lactic acid.
So, in short, the majority of sour cream products contain a bit of natural sugar but no added sugar.
How Much Sugar in Sour Cream?
The table below shows how much sugar is in the products of several popular sour cream brands.
We separated out the sugar by “total sugars” and “added sugars”. Note that total sugars represents all added and natural sugars whereas added sugars are only what the manufacturer adds to the sour cream.
You can see that none of the products featured below have added sugars. Furthermore, total sugars are minimal at 1-2 grams per two tablespoon serving size.
| Sour Cream | Serving Size | Total Sugars (g) | Added Sugars (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakstone’s – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Breakstone’s Fat-Free | 2 tbsp (30g) | 2g | 0g |
| Daisy – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Daisy – Light | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Fage – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Great Value – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Great Value – Light | 2 tbsp (30g) | 2g | 0g |
| Hood – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Hood – Light | 2 tbsp (30g) | 2g | 0g |
| Kalona Super Natural Organic | 2 tbsp (28g) | 1g | 0g |
| Organic Valley – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Organic Valley – Lowfat | 2 tbsp (30g) | 2g | 0g |
| Tillamook – Regular | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
| Tillamook – Reduced Fat | 2 tbsp (30g) | 1g | 0g |
Sour Cream Lactose Content
The sugar (lactose) in sour cream can be a problematic for some people to digest. When a person has difficultly digesting lactose their bodies typically do not naturally produce enough lactase in the small intestines. It is lactase which the body uses to break down lactose.
Most people who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to lactose can tolerate some dairy in their diets. Research has found that lactose-intolerant people can usually tolerate up to 12 grams of lactose in a sitting or about 18 grams over a full day.
The University of Virginia Health Systems reports that sour cream has approximately 0.7 grams of lactose in two tablespoons. In other words, many people are able to consume sour cream without experiencing digestive issues assuming it is consumed in moderation and without other dairy.
Read our article on the lactose content of sour cream for more information on the topic.
Sour Cream Nutrition Facts
Here are the general nutrition facts for regular sour cream to give you an idea of the other nutrition data beyond sugar. Of course, the product label of any given sour cream will provide the most accurate nutrition data that is specific to the product.
Image Credit – jules/flickr