What safe substitutes for sugar are available for purchase?

Some safe substitutes for sugar that have become popular, as of 2015, include stevia, xylitol and agave nectar. However, according to the FDA, traditional sugar substitutes such as saccharin, aspartame and sucralose are safe to use as well.

Sugar substitutes are available at most supermarkets in the United States. These products can be used in a variety of ways; however, a cook may need to alter a recipe in order to achieve the expected results, especially when baking. Some sugar substitutes, such as saccharin, work well in beverages but do not have the consistency or bulk necessary to replace sugar in baking recipes.