Taking Into Account Scientific Evidence Showing the Benefits of 100% Fruit Juice

In their recent commentary,¹ Wojcicki and Heyman suggested that 100% fruit juice consumption is linked to childhood obesity and should be eliminated from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Programs. This recommendation is unsupported by the scientific literature, which has failed to show an association between overweight and obesity status and moderate consumption of 100% fruit juice in children,² but evidence does support that 100% fruit juice contributes significantly to nutrient intake.

The study the authors cited, in support of their argument on obesity and fruit juice consumption,³ examined a small, regional population of children, used a nonstandard definition of obesity, and did not look at the risk of obesity. These results could not be duplicated⁴; a critical review of the literature showed that the evidence did not support an association between fruit juice consumption and overweight and obesity.²

The statements that fruit juice is equivalent to “other high-sugar items such as candy and desserts” and that fruit juice lowers the quality of children’s meals are untrue and ignore the nutrient contribution of fruit juice to the diet. A USDA analysis, commissioned by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee,⁵ showed that some nutrients, including vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and potassium were higher when fruit and fruit juice were in the diet than when fruit juice was replaced by whole fruit. Consumption of fruit juice has been associated with improved diet quality and nutrient adequacy in children.^6–9 Consumers of fruit juice had higher usual intakes of shortfall nutrients: vitamins A and C, magnesium, folate, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium than nonconsumers.^6,7 More servings of total fruit (including whole fruit) were consumed by those also consuming fruit juice.^7,9

Wojcicki and Heyman also posited that the natural fructose content of fruit juice is particularly harmful to health. This theory misconstrues the evidence, which is limited and contradictory at best. Most studies have focused on high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener often added to soft drinks. By definition, fruit juice has no added sugar of any type. Following the authors’ logic concerning fructose, consumption of whole fruit would be equally dangerous to health.

One hundred percent fruit juice is a nutrient dense food¹⁰ and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans endorses consumption of fruit juice and recognizes that it supplies “a substantial amount of nutrients along with the calories they contain.”¹¹ The USDA also notes that fruit juice, as a complement to whole fruit, provides a convenient way to help reach daily fruit recommendations, with a four ounce serving of fruit juice providing a half cup toward the recommendation.