Industry body Fruit Juice Australia (FJA) says the consumer sentiment pendulum has swung too far when it comes to the role of juice in a healthy diet and it says it has the evidence to prove it.
It commissioned a literature review that it hopes will inform health care professionals and the public that parents should feel good, not guilt, about 100 per cent fruit juice.
The FJA's Fruit Juice and Diet Quality – Squeezing out the Evidence, which summarises findings in the association between fruit juice and diet quality, analysed 12 peer-reviewed studies and concluded that 100 per cent fruit juice is associated with better diet quality.
It also found children who consume fruit juice as part of their diet have significantly higher intakes of four essential nutrients: folate, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium, and higher intakes of fibre.
The FJA has also released an online consumer survey of 1000 parents that shows that one in four felt guilty about their children drinking fruit juice.
This is despite the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines released in February reaffirming that a small glass (125ml) of 100 per cent fruit juice can be a beneficial part of a healthy, balanced diet for all people, including for children.
The FJA, which commissioned the survey Getting the Guilts: Parents on Kids’ Food Survey, said it reveals parents are still conflicted about fruit juice, thanks to detractors who had “squeezed any truth out of debate about juice”.
FJA chief executive Geoff Parker says facts that are regularly omitted from the debate are that 100 per cent fruit juice, whether chilled or shelf, has no added sugar and contains most of the same nutritional qualities, apart from dietary fibre, as the whole fruit.
“The pendulum has swung too far in terms of disapproval by some commentators for what is in reality a healthy, natural option for children. We’re simply asking people to consider the facts about juice,” he said.
Registered nutritionist and FJA spokesperson Kristen Becksaid: “Finally we’re seeing a dose of reality in the juice debate, with this evidence-based review, plus the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines which concluded that a small glass (125ml) of 100 per cent fruit juice can contribute to a daily fruit serve.
“The science confirms fruit juice has an important role to play as part of a healthy diet, as it is a useful source of fluid and can provide vitamin C, folate, potassium and other micronutrients, plus antioxidants.”
The problem is not limited to Australia. The North American juice category is well down on ten years ago and per capita consumption is falling, according to market research organisation, Canadean.
“On the one hand it meets growing health and nutritional needs, but at the same time consumers are worried about its calorie and sugar content and are often further deterred by the product’s acidity,” it recently reported.
Canadean said evidence also suggested that consumers were turning away from juice in favour of cheaper nectars and still drinks.
“Indeed, some consumers seem unable to make a distinction between pure juice and products with lower juice content.”
Studies shows children who consume fruit juice as part of their diet have significantly higher intakes of four essential nutrients.
