Friday 25 June 2021 5:05pm
Rachael McLean, EDOR member, Public Health physician and Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Otago, has been interviewed by Consumer magazine twice this year amid health claims made about juice products.
The "Healthy" Juice Claims article, written by Consumer reporter Belinda Castles earlier this year, addressed descriptions by juice companies of their products as "superfoods" or "tonics". Of the nine juice-based drinks that Consumer assessed, five had more than four teaspoons of sugar in a 250ml glass.
Associate Professor McLean commented that there is no definition of a superfood - it is simply a marketing tool. And eating whole fruit rather than juice will give you more benefits, such as an increased fibre and nutrient intake.
“The most important thing is to consume a healthy diet by enjoying a variety of foods and making plain water your drink of choice,” says Dr McLean.
In the recent Four Food Fads to Question Consumer article, Associate Professor McLean was asked about the "immunity-boosting" claims of certain fruit juices. Her answer is that you don't need these products, as a healthy immune system can be supported by eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and healthy protein sources.
In addition to the juice company health claims not stacking up, Associate Professor McLean says there are other reasons to limit our intake of these products:
"Fruit juices are often very concentrated, so you'll consume the equivalent of many pieces of fruit in one go. Juices are also acidic, which can lead to dental erosion."
Read the Consumer articles
- "Healthy" Juice Claims: can you get your health fix in a bottle? Consumer NZ, March 2021
- Four Food Fads to Question, Consumer NZ, June 2021
View more EDOR comment on harmful drinks
- Junk food marketing to kids: action urgently needed, 18 February, 2021
- Lowering our sugar intake is likely to reduce both obesity and type 2 diabetes, 15 March, 2018
- Professor Jim Mann tells us why energy drinks are so bad, 17 January, 2018
- Kids' Cam reveals extent of kids junk food advertising exposure, 10 October, 2017
- What's wrong with sugar-free drinks? 24 February, 2016
