Compare juice & coconut water

Research · Juice & coconut water

What our research found about juice & coconut water

Juice labels turn on one question: is it 100% juice or a juice drink? “Juice drink” and “cocktail” products add water and sweeteners. Even 100% juice concentrates the sugar from several pieces of fruit with little of the fiber, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting juice for children and offering whole fruit. Coconut water is a different product, with natural sugars and potassium, and flavored versions add sweeteners.

Not-from-concentrate, cold-pressed and shelf-stable juices differ in processing and price. Harvard’s Nutrition Source calls water the best choice, puts unsweetened tea and coffee next, and its Healthy Eating Plate suggests no more than one small glass of juice a day, so treat juice as an occasional drink. If you do buy it, compare sugar per serving and look for a short list: juice, nothing else.

Products

274 brands

Full labels recorded

1244% of the shelf

Maker says organic

20maker’s claim

List an added sweetener

2of 12 labels

List a seed oil

0of 12 labels

Typical label length

5ingredients (median)

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

What to compare

• 100% juice. Look for “100% juice” and a list with only fruit or vegetable juices.
• Added sugars. Juice drinks and flavored coconut waters add sweeteners.
• Serving size. A “serving” may be 8 oz even if the bottle holds 16 oz or more.
• Children’s juice. Pediatric guidance recommends limiting juice and prioritizing whole fruit.

References

1. Fruit juice and your child’s diet American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
2. Healthy drinks Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
3. Added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label U.S. Food and Drug Administration
4. Vegetables and fruits Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health