Compare fruit snacks & pouches

Research · Fruit snacks & pouches

What our research found about fruit snacks & pouches

Fruit bars, pouches and chia squeezes range from near-whole-fruit blends to candy-style snacks. The label distinction is between fruit and fruit purees (whole fruit, ground), fruit juice concentrates (sugar source) and added sugars or syrups. Fruit-only bars list just fruit, and “no added sugar” still includes the fruit’s natural sugars.

Pouches are convenient but are quick to consume; fiber is lower when fruit is pureed or juiced. Compare added sugars and the order of ingredients rather than front-of-pack fruit images.

Products

121 brand

Full labels recorded

00% of the shelf

Maker says organic

12maker’s claim

Counts use complete, current ingredient labels only. Records without a published label stay unknown and are never counted as clean.

What to compare

• Fruit first. Look for fruit or fruit puree as the first ingredient.
• Juice concentrate. Concentrates count as added sugars under FDA labeling.
• Added sugars. Check the added-sugars line.
• Format. Pouches, bars and chewy snacks differ in fiber and texture.

References

1. Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label U.S. Food and Drug Administration
2. Vegetables and fruits Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
3. Fiber Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
4. Dietary Guidelines for Americans U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS