We’re a nation of breakfast lovers, often starting our morning off with a bowl of cornflakes, overnight oats or the humble full English – and for many, a large glass of orange juice.
Full of vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants, the fruity beverage has long been thought of as a healthy addition to the first meal of the day.
But, not all orange juice drinks are created equal. Some are 100 per cent pure fruit, while others are a ‘juice drink’ that can’t be classified in the same way.
If you don’t read the label carefully, you might not realise you’re actually buying a drink filled with ‘sweeteners, flavourings, acids, colourings, or juice concentrates that have been heavily processed’, according to nutritional therapist Aliza Marogy.
The founder of supplements provider Inessa told the Daily Mail: ‘100 per cent orange juice is simply juice extracted from oranges, retaining naturally occurring vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and potassium.
‘But some brands may offer “juice drinks” as they are cheaper to produce and have a longer shelf life, but nutritionally, my advice would be to stick to pure orange juice as the healthier choice and always check the label for any added ingredients.’
So, have you been accidentally purchasing an orange ‘juice drink’ when you’ve actually been looking for ‘orange juice’?
Read on to discover the popular drinks that aren’t pure orange juice, instead being labelled as ‘juice drinks’ – and the best ones that are…
Not all orange juice drinks are created equal. Some are 100 per cent pure fruit, while others are a ‘juice drink’ that can’t be classified in the same way. M&S Smooth Orange Juice, pictured left, and pictured right, Morrisons The Best Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice with Bits
ORANGE JUICE DRINKS
The orange juice drinks below all contain the likes of sweetener and flavourings.
However, none of the beverages on their labels claim to be ‘pure orange juice’ or ‘a 100 per cent orange juice’.
Don Simon Orange Juice Drink – 1 Litre
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice from Concentrate (50%), Water Acidity Regulator: Citric Acid, Sweetener: Sucralose, Antioxidant: Ascorbic Acid, Flavouring Colouring: Beta-Carotene, Juice Content: Minimum 50%.
A spokesperson for García-Carrión, the producers of Don Simon, said: ‘Don Simón is a juice brand primarily focused on the production of 100 per cent freshly squeezed orange juice.
‘We own more than 1,500 hectares of our own orange groves located in a privileged area of Andalucia, Spain, as well as long-term agreements with over 40,000 farmers.
‘However, in addition to our main NFC (not from concentrate) range – which is available in the UK at leading retailers such as Tesco, Costco, and Iceland – we also offer a range of “Juice Drinks” in order to meet the needs of consumers who are looking for this type of product.’
Don Simon Orange Juice Drink, pictured left, and pictured right, Stamford Street Co. Orange Juice Drink
Stamford Street Co. Orange Juice Drink – 1 Litre
PRICE: £1
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice from Concentrate (50%), Water, Acid: Citric Acid; Vitamin C, Flavourings, Sweetener: Sucralose.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘We work hard to give customers great value on a wide range of delicious own‑brand and branded orange juices.
‘That includes our Stamford Street Co Orange Juice from Concentrate, Sainsbury’s Pure Orange Juice 1L and Sainsbury’s Smooth Pure Orange Juice 1L, all made from 100% concentrated orange juice.’
Growers Harvest Orange Juice Drink – 1 Litre
PRICE: 95p
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice from Concentrate (50%), Water, Vitamin C, Citric Acid, Flavourings, Sweetener (Sucralose).
Growers Harvest Orange Juice Drink, pictured left, and pictured right, Iceland Orange Juice Drink
Iceland Orange Juice Drink – 1 litre
PRICE: £1.60
INGREDIENTS: Water, Orange Juice from Concentrate (45%), Acid: Citric Acid; Vitamin C, Flavourings, Sweetener: Sucralose.
Co-op Honest Value Orange Juice Drink – 1 Litre
PRICE: £1.20
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice from Concentrate (50%), Water Acid (Citric acid), Vitamin C, Flavourings, Sweetener (Sucralose).
A Co-op spokesperson said: ‘We sell high quality and delicious products to our shoppers, that meet every budget, so we have a 100 per cent orange juice range, both fresh and from concentrate and we also have lower priced fruit drink alternatives to pure juices, such as our Honest Value OJ drink, which is very clearly labelled as a drink, not a pure juice.’
Co-op Honest Value Orange Juice Drink, pictured left, and pictured right, JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Orange Juice Drink
JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Orange Juice Drink – 1 Litre
PRICE: 92p
INGREDIENTS: Water, Orange Juice (30%), Flavouring, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrates), Vitamin C, Sweetener (Sucralose)
Morrisons Savers Orange Juice Drink – 1 Litre
PRICE: 89p
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice from Concentrate (50%), Water, Acid (Citric Acid), Vitamin C, Flavourings, Sweetener (Sucralose).
A Morrisons spokesperson said: ‘This product clearly displays on the packaging and online the ingredients used and makes no claim to be made with 100 per cent oranges. We do have plenty of orange juices that are.’
Morrisons Savers Orange Juice Drink, pictured left, and pictured right, Waitrose’s Essential Pure Orange Juice
Waitrose’s Essential Pure Orange Juice – 1 Litre
PRICE: £2
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice from Concentrate (water, orange concentrate, flavouring, orange oil).
A Waitrose spokesperson said: ‘Our Essential Long Life Orange Juice is rated highly by our customers who praise its flavour and great value.
‘Our customers can also enjoy a broad range of 100 per cent orange juice products across both our fresh and ambient ranges – from Cawston Press Squeezed Orange Juice to our No 1 Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice, which has over 370 five-star reviews.’
NOW FOR THE 100 PER CENT ORANGE JUICES
Waitrose Smooth Orange Juice – 1 litre
PRICE: £2.20
INGREDIENTS: Made from 100 per cent squeezed juice, never from concentrate, with twelve oranges that have been sourced from around the world then squeezed into each bottle.
Tesco 100% Pure Squeezed Orange Juice – 1.75 Litre
PRICE: £3.25
INGREDIENTS: 100 per cent pure juice squeezed from 26 oranges selected at the peak of ripeness
Tropicana Smooth Orange Juice – 900Ml
PRICE: £3.15
INGREDIENTS: 100 per cent pure pressed fruit
Don Simon Orange Smooth – 1 litre
Don Simon Orange Smooth, pictured left, and Iceland Smooth Orange Juice, pictured right
PRICE: £2.20
INGREDIENTS: 100 per cent squeezed orange juice
Iceland Smooth Orange Juice – 1 litre
PRICE: £2.25
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice
Sainsbury’s Freshly Squeezed Smooth Orange Juice, Taste the Difference – 1 litre
PRICE: £3.40
INGREDIENTS: 100 per cent freshly squeezed orange juice
Morrisons The Best Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice with Bits – 1 litre
PRICE: £3.40
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice (100 per cent)
ASDA Smooth Orange Juice – 1 Litre
ASDA Smooth Orange Juice, pictured left, and pictured right, Ocado Orange Juice Smooth Not From Concentrate
PRICE: £2
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice
Ocado Orange Juice Smooth Not From Concentrate – 1 Litre
PRICE: £2
INGREDIENTS: Orange Juice (100 per cent)
M&S Smooth Orange Juice – 1.75 Litre
PRICE: £3.50
INGREDIENTS: 21 pure squeezed oranges per carton
Innocent Pure Orange Juice Smooth
PRICE: £3.50
INGREDIENTS: 22 oranges squeezed into each bottle
