Fruit Juices Are Good for You

MEDIA RELEASE

For more information

Alyce Cowan

Associate Consultant

alycec@coxinall.com.au

Telephone: 02 8204 3890

23-Apr-2013 3:02 PM

Topic: Food, Beverage & Hospitality

Parents should feel good, not guilt about fruit juice

The fruit juice industry is fighting back against scaremongering about 100% fruit juice, claiming detractors have squeezed any truth out of debate about juice, leaving parents confused and denying children a legitimate and useful dietary source of a range of essential nutrients.

One in four (25%) parents feels guilty about their children drinking fruit juice, according to the ‘Getting the Guilts: Parents on Kids’ Food Survey’ released today. The online consumer survey of 1000 Aussie parents, commissioned by industry body Fruit Juice Australia (FJA), reveals parents are conflicted about fruit juice.

This is despite the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines released in February reaffirming that a small glass (125ml) of 100% fruit juice can be a beneficial part of a healthy, balanced diet for all people, including for children.

FJA Chief Executive Geoff Parker says facts that are regularly omitted from the debate are that 100% 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.

The industry has also commissioned evidence-based research reviews to inform health care professionals and the public about 100% fruit juice. The first report, a review of peer-reviewed health and nutrition literature , concludes consumption of fruit juice is associated with better diet quality overall for children and adults.

The research review, Fruit Juice and Diet Quality – Squeezing out the Evidence, shows children who...