ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4758-5328

Abstract

Fruit juice (FJ) is typically low in energy, contains natural sugars, important amounts of micronutrients and is not permitted to have added sugars/sweeteners. However, its role in a healthy diet is under scrutiny partly due to the wider adoption of the definition for free sugars in nutrition policy. This review aimed to identify data on FJ consumption from national food consumption surveys across Europe, to examine current intakes, percent consumers and its contribution to intakes of energy, total sugars, free sugars, vitamin C, folate and potassium. Data were extracted on the population mean intake of FJ and its contribution to nutrient intakes across the lifecycle and crude estimates of population mean intakes across countries were reported for the total population and for consumers only. This review highlighted significant gaps/challenges regarding the availability of country-specific national food consumption surveys across Europe and specifically data on FJ consumption (including complexities surrounding categorisations). Nonetheless, using a comparable/homogenous definition, the mean intake of FJ among consumers was approximately 1 × 150 ml glass/day for adults/older adults, with lower intakes among infants (86 g/d), children (108 g/d) and teenagers (112 g/d). FJ made important contributions to intakes of vitamin C while making little contribution to energy intakes but also contributed 2–14 % of free sugars intake (which may be considered modest compared to other sources). The complexity of collating and interpreting data on FJ intake as elucidated in this review raises questions surrounding the categorisation of FJ in research and presents significant challenges for policymakers with respect to dietary guidance for FJ.

Disciplines

Biology | Food Science | Life Sciences

DOI

10.1017/S095442242400009X

Full Publication Date

February 2024

Publication Details

Nutrition Research Reviews. © TheAuthor(s), 2024.

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Resource Type

review article

Access Rights

open access

License Condition

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Alternative Identifier

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nutrition-research-reviews/article/current-perspectives-and-challenges-in-the-estimation-of-fruit-juice-consumption-across-the-lifecycle-in-europe/1714B147DEFA2089C14F3929BF6E2B71

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