New information on fruit juices

Often, a “100 percent juice” product contains juice fillers. Read the ingredients label and you will find that your cranberry juice, for example, is mostly apple juice.

The following is new information regarding consumption of fruit juices.

100 percent pure fruit juice is no longer linked to obesity

New research presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ annual convention in Toronto, May 2007, indicates that consuming 100 percent pure fruit juice does not increase childhood obesity and may actually help children maintain healthy weight. In the study, researchers analyzed the juice consumption of 3,618 children, ages 2 to 11, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Increased risk for obesity was linked to beverages containing artificial sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup, which includes the vast majority of beverages on the market. Note: most high-fructose corn syrup is made from genetically engineered corn.

Avoiding fruit juice scams

Large beverage manufacturers are notorious for putting labels on their products that mislead consumers into believing their junk-food drinks are pure fruit juice or contain more juice than they really do. If you are shopping for 100 percent pure fruit juice, you can avoid getting scammed by doing the following:.

• Always read the ingredients labels. Any contents other than fruit juice must be listed there.
• “Made with real fruit juice” could mean the beverage contains only a small percentage of fruit juice.
• All beverages that imply they contain juice must declare the actual percentage of juice near the top of the Nutrition Facts panel.
• If a product is labeled a fruit drink, juice beverage, juice cocktail or “ade,” the product is likely full of artificial sweeteners and contains very little real juice.
• Often, a “100 percent juice” product contains juice fillers. Read the ingredients label and you will find that your cranberry juice, for example, is mostly apple juice.

Resource: www.organicconsumers.org

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 26, Number 3, June/July 2007.