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Molasses

What the research shows

Prototype

Not enough

published research on this page yet

1 health finding on this page so far · See the findings

A thick liquid left over from making sugar from sugarcane or sugar beets.

Sugarcane molasses is usually used to sweeten and flavour foods.

Written from Open Food Facts and English Wikipedia12

What research says

Animal and lab studies only

  • Benefit

    DNA damage protection3

    In lab studies, molasses fractions protected DNA from damage caused by harmful molecules called peroxyl radicals.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.

Products

The 6 most-scanned of 16,168 products on Open Food Facts that list molasses.

  • Crunchy oats&honey Nature valley · 42 g 2 additives
  • Crunchy Oats & Dark Chocolate Nature Valley · 42 g 2 additives
  • Organic Bread 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Dave's Killer Bread · 765 g 0 additives
  • Thin-Sliced Organic Bread 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Dave's Killer Bread · 20.5 oz 0 additives
  • Rye and Mixed Seed Sourdough Bread finest · 400 g 1 additive
  • Crunchy Oats & Honey Nature Valley · 420 g 2 additives

References

  1. 1molasses: ingredient taxonomy entry. Open Food Facts.
  2. 2Molasses. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  3. 3Asikin Y, Takahashi M, Mishima T, Mizu M, Takara K, Wada K. Antioxidant activity of sugarcane molasses against 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced peroxyl radicals. Food Chem. 2013;141(1):466-72. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.03.045