Compare creamers

Research · Creamers

What our research found about creamers

Creamers are small-serving products (a tablespoon), which makes their labels look better than a full serving would. Dairy creamers list cream and milk; non-dairy creamers list oils such as palm, coconut or sunflower, sweeteners, thickeners and natural flavors. The FDA has phased partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of artificial trans fat, out of the food supply, so the main oil questions now are which oil and how much sugar.

Flavored creamers add sugar or syrups, and “sugar-free” versions use sucralose, stevia or monk fruit. Oat, almond and cashew creamers list the plant base plus oils and gums. Compare added sugar per tablespoon and the first three ingredients, and remember that most people use more than one tablespoon.

Products

647 brands

Full labels recorded

2133% of the shelf

Maker says organic

5maker’s claim

List an added sweetener

15of 21 labels

List a seed oil

2of 21 labels

Typical label length

6ingredients (median)

Counts use complete, current ingredient labels only. Records without a published label stay unknown and are never counted as clean.

What to compare

• Added sugar per tablespoon. Compare, and multiply by the amount you actually use.
• Oil and base. Cream, oat, almond, cashew, coconut and palm bases differ.
• Thickeners and flavors. Gums, natural flavors and emulsifiers appear in many creamers.
• Dairy-free. Plant-based creamers should be compared with each other.

References

1. Trans fat U.S. Food and Drug Administration
2. Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label U.S. Food and Drug Administration
3. 21 CFR 101.22: spices, flavors, and colors on labels Code of Federal Regulations
4. Chemical Cuisine: food additives guide Center for Science in the Public Interest