100% Fruit Juice

• 100% fruit juices are nutrient-dense beverages that come from the whole fruit and offer great taste and health benefits.

• 100% fruit juice is a nutritious beverage choice for students in the school environment because it is naturally nutrient-rich and has a similar nutrition profile to whole fruit. In addition, 100% juice is naturally sweet and is rich in vitamins, minerals and naturally occurring phytonutrients that contribute to good health and contains no added sugars.  (Phytonutrients are compounds in fruits, vegetables and other plants that researchers find have disease preventative and disease fighting properties; phytonutrients are not listed on the Nutrition Facts panel.)

• Some 100% juices are also fortified with nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D.

• 100% juices are a part of the fruit category as defined by USDA’s latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPyramid food guidance program. 100% juices are a convenient way for children, teenagers and adults to get a part of their recommended 4½ or more cups of fruits and vegetables each day.  The calorie content can vary from juice to juice and 100% fruit juices have only 60-80 calories per each ½ cup of nutritionally rich juice.

• According to MyPyramid, “Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.” In general, ½ cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice equals ½ cup from the fruit group. When looking at total dietary intake, the Dietary Guidelines also note, “Fruit juices provide substantial contributions of several vitamins and minerals in higher amounts than do whole fruits.”  (More information about selecting a healthful diet and where fruit juice fits in can be found at http://www.mypyramid.gov.)

• Adults and children (in particular) are notorious under-consumers of fruit. Fruit juices provide substantial contributions of several nutrients to the diet in higher amount than do whole fruits, including vitamin C, folate and potassium. An 8-ounce serving of fruit juice counts as two ½ cup fruit servings.

• The latest campaign “Fruitsandveggiesmorematters” from the Produce for Better Health Foundation notes that “all forms count.”  This includes 100% fruit juices.  The most widely used government food consumption databases find that children and teenagers generally are drinking 100% fruit juices in amounts suggested by health professionals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice to no more than 4 to 6 ounces per day for children age 1 to 6 years and 8 to 12 ounces per day for children age 7 to 18 years.

• The preponderance of scientific evidence does not show a connection between juice consumption and children’s weight. 

Juice Drinks

• Any juice-containing beverage that contains less than 100% juice must be labeled using specific terms in association with the word “juice.”  Terms include: drink, cocktail, punch, drink, sparkler, blend, and beverage.  The types of juice drinks available on the market today vary widely.  Many of these juice drinks are now fortified with key nutrients. 

For both 100% juices and juice drinks, manufacturers are required by law to list the total percent juice content on the product’s label.  Consumers should read the label to learn the percent juice content, added nutrients or other ingredients in their juices and juice drinks.