Fructose is a simple sugar, or monosaccharide, typically found in fruit, some vegetables, and honey.

Fructose along with glucose forms the commonly eaten 'table sugar' or sucrose that we are all familiar with. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is now added to many processed foods, especially in the US, as an inexpensive 'bulk-sweetener'.

Fructose is often added to food because it is both cheap and enhances taste. Potential health effects of added fructose include obesity, increased LDL cholesterol, gout, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (1) More studies are needed to determine whether fructose is to blame, as many other components of these processed foods are unhealthy. (1)

It should be noted that naturally occurring fructose in fruits is not the problem here. Fruits are beneficial to health, being an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants.

People with a rare condition called hereditary fructose intolerance, or those with fructose malabsorption may have to limit their consumption of fructose from all sources, including high-fructose fruits. The list below, therefore, includes all high-fructose foods, both naturally occurring and processed.

Foods high in added fructose include sauces, salad dressings, sugary drinks, colas, yogurt, baked goods, and fast foods. Foods naturally rich in fructose include honey, molasses, agave, dried fruits, fruits, and fruit juices. (2) Below are the top 10 foods highest in fructose. For more, see the extended list fructose rich foods.