How much fruit is contained in fruit juices,
nectars and other fruit beverages?
Consumers can choose from a wide range of delicious fruit juices, nectars and fruit beverages. But how much fruit do these products really contain? The European Council has established clear labelling guidelines in the Fruit Juice Directive.
Fruit juice
always 100% fruit
Therefore, nutrition experts do not classify fruit juice as a beverage but rather as a plant-based food.
They advise that one glass of fruit juice per day can replace one of the five portions of fruit and vegetables recommended within the context of the international “5 A Day” campaign.
Fruit juice
always 100% fruit
According to the European Fruit Juice Directive, a product may be sold as “fruit juice” only if its actual fruit content is 100 percent (even though the term “100%” need not appear on the label). Thus fruit juices made of oranges, apples, grapes, pears or pineapples, for instance, contain substantial quantities of valuable natural fruit nutrients in liquid form.
Fruit nectar
adding diversity and variety to the store shelf
Von A wie Ananas bis Z wie Zitrone:
Fruits of all types can be processed
to make pure juice. But some of these
juices would not taste very good.
Fruit nectar
adding diversity and variety to the store shelf
Thus highly acidic fruit varieties such as sour cherries and blackcurrants are processed into fruit nectar. And the same goes for especially pulpy fruits like bananas. According to the Fruit Juice Directive, fruit nectars – which expand the range of fruit beverages tremendously due to their sheer diversity – must contain at least 25 to 50 percent fruit, depending on fruit type (the concentration must be indicated on the label). Actual fruit content is often higher, however. Thus fruit nectars also offer a good supply of healthy fruit ingredients.
Fruit beverages
full flavour with or without carbonation
The popular fruit pricklers (blends of juice and carbonated mineral water) are classified as “fruit beverages”. They contain at least 50% fruit, however, and often more (precise values are indicated on the label). Apple juice and pricklers made with red fruit juice are especially refreshing at any time of the year.
Smoothies
variable fruit and juice content
Many “first-generation” smoothies were produced directly from pureed fruit and direct juice. Many of the products available today contain fruit juice concentrates, fruit chunks and even vegetable components. So-called “superfruits” are frequently used for the most recent additions to the smoothie segment – fruit varieties with an especially high concentration of beneficial ingredients.
variable fruit and juice content
Originally sold only in the U.S., smoothies are now available on supermarket shelves in many (Western) European countries as well. Because they are subject to no regulations regarding content either in the U.S. or Germany, no specifications regarding juice or additive content exist.