"No Sugar Added" desserts

[Ash&Wes07]

I know different places use different terms to describe the way food is made.

Does Disney use "No Sugar Added" as their way of saying "We're using artifical sweetener"?

I know our local places are split between NSA meaning literally "no sugar added, but no artificial stuff, either" and "we don't use sugar, we use splenda/whatever".

 

[clanmcculloch]

Many of their NSA desserts do use artificial sweeteners. Your best bet is to contact the Special Diets department (email address is in the stickies on the disABILITIES! board) to get more details about options at different locations.

 

[PictureJumpr]

NSA at WDW can mean many things.

It can mean, as in your first example, that they do not add sugar or anything else. This, however, is the least-common usage.

It can mean, as in your second example, that they do not add sugar/sucrose, but that they have used any number of artificial sweeteners (splenda/sucralose, aspartame, etc).

It can mean that they do not add sugar/sucrose, but they have used a sugar alcohol (maltitol, manitol, sorbitol, xylitol).

In my experience, it has been easy to get "NSA" clarified in most table-service locations, where a chef can be asked to define the term. For counter-service locations, most products are prepackaged and therefore labeled, and so if you are a label reader you can determine what "NSA" means in those instances. In the few cases where an "NSA" item is available at a CS location but is not labeled, getting answers is next to impossible since the folks working in those locations are not reliably informed in this particular subject (not faulting them at all, I don't expect the cashier at McDonald's to be able to correctly identify the ingredients in everything they offer there, either).

 

[catne]

I know different places use different terms to describe the way food is made.

Does Disney use "No Sugar Added" as their way of saying "We're using artifical sweetener"?

I know our local places are split between NSA meaning literally "no sugar added, but no artificial stuff, either" and "we don't use sugar, we use splenda/whatever".

Virtually all of the no-sugar-added desserts use artificial sweeteners , including some have the sugar alcohols which can wreak havoc on many people's digestive systems. Most of these desserts are also relatively high-carb, if you're counting carbs. They are not low-calorie options in most cases, either...mainly these no-sugar-added are options for people wanting to control blood sugar spikes for diabetes. They are not really intended for dieting to lose weight (not your "100 calorie" serving or weight-watchers-style desserts.)

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

In the few cases where an "NSA" item is available at a CS location but is not labeled, getting answers is next to impossible since the folks working in those locations are not reliably informed in this particular subject (not faulting them at all, I don't expect the cashier at McDonald's to be able to correctly identify the ingredients in everything they offer there, either).

The manager at CS locations will have a book with the ingredient list of all non-pre packaged items. You are correct, the cashier will not know, but the manager will have the book. You can ask the cashier to call for the manager to help you place your order.

 

[Ash&Wes07]

Thanks for the responses.

I am asking mainly about desserts at TS places, like the NSA sorbet. Typically sorbet is dairy-free so I can eat it, but I don't eat artificial sweeteners as a personal preference.

Dairy-free desserts are the hardest to find, but I have already notified of my dietary needs & will confirm again at dinners.

Thanks again!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Thanks for the responses.

I am asking mainly about desserts at TS places, like the NSA sorbet. Typically sorbet is dairy-free so I can eat it, but I don't eat artificial sweeteners as a personal preference.

Dairy-free desserts are the hardest to find, but I have already notified of my dietary needs & will confirm again at dinners.

Thanks again!

There are plenty of tasty dairy free desserts around WDW. My kids definitely did not do without (they're both dairy free as well as free of lots of other things). I make a point of telling chefs no artificial sweeteners for my girls (they're horrible triggers for their GI issues) and I believe that this particular restriction hasn't added any further limits to their options.

My DH who is T2 diabetic found that the dairy free ice cream by Tofutti was easier on his blood sugar than the "sugar free" ice creams. He even ordered his milk shakes along with my girls' shakes and loved them without having to worry about bad spikes.

I believe that most of the sorbets do not have artificial sweeteners and are just sweetened with fruit juice, but Special Diets can confirm this for you. My kids aren't huge sorbet fans but they did have a few over the past several years.