By Apinya Wipatayotin
Laboratory tests by Mahidol University on 22 samples of orange juice found many contained dangerously high levels of sugar, the Foundation for Consumers said Monday.
People who regularly buy orange juice drinks, thinking they are healthy, have been warned to read the labels carefully, as they could be getting a massive hit of added sugar, Saree Aongsomwang, manager of the consumer protection group, warned.
The amount of sugar in some concentrated orange juice and orange-flavoured beverages was even higher than in carbonated drinks, she said.
The foundation commissioned the tests on popular orange juice brands in May to find out if they really give the health benefits manufacturers claim.
The tests revealed some concentrated orange juice and orange-flavoured drinks contain 11 to 15 teaspoons of sugar per small bottle or pack, compared to about seven teaspoons per similar-sized can of carbonated drink.
"These findings should encourage consumers to think carefully before buying orange juice in future," Ms Saree said.
Consumers would be better protected if the authorities frequently inspected the nutritional claims of the beverages, she said.
Thailand has no regulation to control the amount of sugar in packaged drinks. Producers are only required to declare the contents on the packaging.
The Department of Medical Services recently reported that Thais consume excessive amounts of sugar, with an average of 29.6 kilogrammes, or 20 teaspoons, per person a day. The recommended health standard is no more than 10 teaspoons a day.
An excessive intake of sugar can lead to increased a risk of many diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
The lab tests also found that the juices contained less vitamin C than claimed on the label. Some orange-flavoured drinks contained no vitamin C at all.
Ms Saree said consumers had been misled into believing orange juice products all have a high vitamin C level, but many contain very few nutrients.
She suggested consumers switch to fresh fruit, such as guava, for vitamin C intake. A 100g serving of fresh guava contains up to 230mg of vitamin C.
As Thais become more health-conscious, sales of fruit juice have soared to about six billion baht a year, with orange juice making up more than half of the market.
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Laboratory tests by Mahidol University on 22 samples of orange juice found many contained dangerously high levels of sugar, the Foundation for Consumers said Monday.
People who regularly buy orange juice drinks, thinking they are healthy, have been warned to read the labels carefully, as they could be getting a massive hit of added sugar, Saree Aongsomwang, manager of the consumer protection group, warned.
The amount of sugar in some concentrated orange juice and orange-flavoured beverages was even higher than in carbonated drinks, she said.
The foundation commissioned the tests on popular orange juice brands in May to find out if they really give the health benefits manufacturers claim.
The tests revealed some concentrated orange juice and orange-flavoured drinks contain 11 to 15 teaspoons of sugar per small bottle or pack, compared to about seven teaspoons per similar-sized can of carbonated drink.
"These findings should encourage consumers to think carefully before buying orange juice in future," Ms Saree said.
Consumers would be better protected if the authorities frequently inspected the nutritional claims of the beverages, she said.
Thailand has no regulation to control the amount of sugar in packaged drinks. Producers are only required to declare the contents on the packaging.
The Department of Medical Services recently reported that Thais consume excessive amounts of sugar, with an average of 29.6 kilogrammes, or 20 teaspoons, per person a day. The recommended health standard is no more than 10 teaspoons a day.
An excessive intake of sugar can lead to increased a risk of many diseases, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
The lab tests also found that the juices contained less vitamin C than claimed on the label. Some orange-flavoured drinks contained no vitamin C at all.
Ms Saree said consumers had been misled into believing orange juice products all have a high vitamin C level, but many contain very few nutrients.
She suggested consumers switch to fresh fruit, such as guava, for vitamin C intake. A 100g serving of fresh guava contains up to 230mg of vitamin C.
As Thais become more health-conscious, sales of fruit juice have soared to about six billion baht a year, with orange juice making up more than half of the market.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
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