Parents Confuse Fruit 'Drinks' With the Real Thing

Kids Missing Out On Healthy Hydration

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Processed Apples Institute

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ATLANTA, July 27, 1998 -- Summertime, and the weather is hot. But instead of serving their children 100 percent fruit juice, a healthy drink to quench their thirst, many parents are giving their kids fruit drinks, ades or even "bug juice." Blame it on El Nino? Maybe the weather, but not the choice of thirst-quenchers.

A national survey of pediatricians recently conducted by The Gallup Organization has revealed that most pediatricians believe parents often confuse 100 percent fruit juice and "fruit drinks." In fact, 7 out of 10 pediatricians themselves believe that serving 100 percent fruit juice that has natural sugars from the fruit itself is better for a child than a fruit drink with added sugar.

The end result? Children who consume these fruit drinks, either on a regular basis or for hydration during the hot summer months, are missing out on a good source of important nutrients that come from fruit.

Kids and their parents may start out on the right foot, but it seems they often are led astray as they get older. Case in point: apple juice, according to the Gallup survey, is most often recommended by pediatricians as the first juice in a child's diet. "Apple juice, which is 100 percent juice from the fruit itself, provides nutrients that are important as children adopt a healthful diet early in life," said Dr. Marianne Neifert, clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, author (known as "Dr. Mom"), and mother of five grown children.

"But as kids get older, too many parents are listening to advertising hype and are not aware of what's in the beverages their kids drink," said Dr. Neifert, a spokesperson for the "Smart Sippin'" campaign, a consumer awareness program to educate parents about healthy beverage choices.

"Parents can get confused about the beverages they serve because of the ever-growing maze of beverage choices and marketing that bombards consumers today," she explained.

According to Dr. Neifert, most beverages can be part of a healthy diet, but the key is when to provide them and in what amounts. "As a physician, I recommend milk, water and 100 percent fruit juice as the best beverage choices for children who are over a year old," said the pediatrician.

Citing the survey's findings, Dr. Neifert said that the vast majority of pediatricians (nearly 90 percent) believe beverages play an important role in a nutritious diet for children. However, the survey revealed that only 15 percent of pediatricians believe parents are very aware of this critical component of a healthy diet for their kids.

"Recent government studies show that children are consuming barely three servings of fruits and vegetables each day," Dr. Neifert noted. "Many parents aren't aware that children can drink some of their servings of the recommended 5-A-Day, since 100 percent fruit juice counts as a fruit exchange."

She explained that it's easy to tell the difference between fruit juice and fruit-flavored beverages, simply by reading the label on a juice bottle or carton. All beverages that contain juice or imply they contain juice must declare the percentage of juice on the information label near the top of the Nutrition Facts panel. Here are some important juice terms to remember:

• Fruit juice -- the product contains 100 percent fruit juice from a single juice or a juice blend.
  
  
• Fruit drink, juice beverage, juice cocktail or "ade" -- the product contains less than 100 percent juice. Read labels carefully -- some contain only 5 or 10 percent juice, and have sweeteners added.
  
  
• Fresh -- the juice is not processed (it has not been frozen or has not been pasteurized).
  
  
• Pasteurized -- like milk, many juices have been heat treated to help them last longer and kill bacteria that may have occurred prior to or during processing. Nutrients and flavor are generally not affected by this process. Shelf stable and frozen fruit juices have been pasteurized or heat-treated. And starting very soon, a government-mandated label will tell consumers if a product has not been pasteurized or properly heat treated.
  
  

Last year, much attention was given to a research study that implied that consumption of fruit juice was connected with overweight children. Since then, a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found there is no negative relationship between 100 percent fruit juice consumption and Body Mass Index (BMI) or height, even in children who consumed 12 or more ounces per day. This newer government research revealed that children drinking more than 12 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice were actually slightly taller with slightly lower BMIs.

In addition, a national food consumption survey from USDA finds that fruit juice is not the most popular drink for kids over the age of six. According to the survey, girls ages 6 to 11 consume almost 50 percent more fruit drinks and ades than they do 100 percent fruit juice. A girl's typical daily beverage consumption is about 25 ounces; of this, only 12 percent (3 oz.) is 100 percent fruit juice, 18 percent (4.4 oz.) is fruit drinks/ades and 29 percent (7.2 oz.) is soft drinks. Boys also consume twice as much fruit drinks and soft drinks as they do 100 percent fruit juice. (The remainder of the beverages consumed is milk; water is not considered in this survey.)

For further information on healthy beverage choices, including games and a contest for kids, visit http://www.applejuice.org. Also included on this Web site is a "Smart Sippin'" brochure that has been favorably reviewed by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation.

The national survey of pediatricians and Dr. Neifert's "Smart Sippin'" campaign are sponsored by the Processed Apples Institute, a non-profit association of companies that make processed apple products. The pediatrician survey was completed in March 1998.

Web site: http: //www.applejuice.org

CONTACT: Wendy Alpine, Processed Apples Institute, 404-252-3663