Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Food regulatory bodies (such as FSSAI in India and FDA globally) define specific nutrient content claims to protect consumers from misleading labels.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
According to FSSAI (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, as well as international food standards:
- For a food product to carry the label claim "Sugar-Free", "Free of Sugar", or "Zero Sugar", it must not contain more than \(0.5\text{ g}\) of total sugars per \(100\text{ g}\) (for solid foods) or per \(100\text{ ml}\) (for liquid foods).
- This small allowance accounts for analytical limits of detection and trace natural sugars, ensuring the product has an insignificant caloric contribution from sugar.
Step 3: Final Answer:
A "sugar-free" claim requires the product to contain no more than \(0.5\text{ g}\) of sugars per \(100\text{ g}\) or \(100\text{ ml}\).