From the outside, there is no difference between the two fruit products. Even the consistency is the same. The difference is only very slight on closer inspection. Applesauce always contains added sweeteners in addition to its own fruit sugar.
According to the guidelines for fruit products in Germany, the prescribed sugar content in applesauce must be at least 16.5 percent. However, an apple naturally has only 11 per cent fructose on average. Therefore, manufacturers enrich the product with sugar in order to be allowed to sell it as applesauce.
Pith, on the other hand, consists only of the fruit's own sugar. On average, apple puree has a third less sugar. You can also see this in the ingredients. Because apple puree should always say 100 % apple and nothing else.