How do you shop for orange juice? There are so many brands and varieties out there – and everyone has a different palate and preferences. Our family looks at the ingredient label and always opts for 100% OJ (usually with some pulp).
I recently had an opportunity to submit YOUR questions to Tropicana about orange juice. Here goes:
Q1 from LaVonne: Pulp or no pulp? Which variety is healthier and why?
A1: Orange juice is sold with and without pulp to delight consumers of all different taste preferences. Nutritionally speaking, there is no difference between 100% OJ with pulp and without pulp.
Q2 from Jenny: What is the difference between orange juice from concentrate versus not?
A2: Not-from-concentrate means the fruit is squeezed, the juice is pasteurized and then packaged. Tropicana Pure Premium is never from concentrate.
From-concentrate means the fruit is squeezed, the water is extracted, which produces a concentrated form similar to that you see in the frozen food department. At a later time the water is added back in and the juice is pasteurized and packaged.
Q3 from Tiffany: Can you respond to the claims in this post by Kristen of Food Renegade?
A3: Tropicana is committed to offering great-tasting 100 percent orange juice with no added sugars or preservatives. We take the faith that consumers place in our products seriously and are committed to full compliance with labeling laws and regulations. Learn more about how we make OJ here.
Q4 from Vanessa: I’m concerned about the sugar content in juice for my kids. A) What are the health benefits for little ones and B) how much should I limit their consumption?
A4: Orange juice is one of the most nutrient-dense 100% fruit juices [1] (meaning it’s made up of more nutrients per calorie than many juices like apple and grape). Just one 8-ounce glass of Tropicana Pure Premium 100% orange juice provides two fruit servings, a full day’s supply of vitamin C, a good source of folate and thiamin, and as much potassium as a medium banana.
Also, consider these common misconceptions about fruit juice.
MYTH: One hundred percent juice has added sugar.
FACT: According to a September-October 2010 Juice Products Association survey, less than half of respondents were aware that 100 percent juice has no added sugars. Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice has no added sugars or sweeteners, and is an all-natural and easy way to achieve a power-pack of nutrients.
MYTH: Children and teens who drink juice are less healthy than those that don’t.
FACT: According to recent reviews of NHANES data, children and teens who drink 100 percent fruit juice tend to have [2] more nutritious diets [3]. In addition, children who consumed 100 percent juice and teens who consumed more than 6oz of 100% juice per day also consumed significantly more servings of total whole fruit than non-consumers. The majority of studies in this area have found no association between 100 percent fruit juice consumption and weight status. While no cause and effect relationship can be drawn from cross-sectional studies like these, the findings suggest that 100% juice can be part of an overall healthy diet for children and adolescents.
The amount of juice for children varies by age. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children between the ages of 1-6 should consume no more than 4-6 fl oz of 100% juice daily, while 7-18 year olds should consume no more than 8-12 fl oz of 100% juice per day. The majority of fruit consumption should come from whole fruits [4].
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Don’t forget to enter my $100 Target gift card giveaway (Deadline: 4/16) and Tropicana’s Perfect Pick Sweepstakes (Deadline: 4/20)!
Disclosure: I have a formal relationship with Tropicana Pure Premium as a “TropiMomma” blogger. I was compensated for this post. All opinions remain 100% my own.
