Fruit juice health rating slashed to that of a soft drink

Orange, apple, mango – whatever the flavour, your favourite juice may as well be a soft drink, according to the regulators. And the decision to cut its health rating is going to cost growers dearly.

Fruit juice has lost its five-star health rating.

ORANGE, apple or mango – whatever the flavour, juice is no better than soft drink, according to the regulators.

Fruit juice has lost its five-star health rating, after the Australian and New Zealand Ministerial Forum for food regulation today rejected a last-ditch bid to save its health credentials.

Citrus producers fear the decision will harm the $800 million industry, particularly for growers in the Riverina where the majority of Australia’s juicing oranges are sourced.

One hundred per cent fruit juice had held a five-star rating since the health star system was introduced.

But a review of the system last year recommended juice be stripped of its top-tier rating, to anywhere between two-and-a-half – the same as diet soft drink – and four. 

The Dietitians’ Association of Australia advises on its website that juice should be limited to 125ml serves, and that “most types naturally contain a similar amount of sugar and kilojoules to soft drinks”.

NSW and South Australia supported Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud’s amendment to rate juice at four-stars, but were outvoted by the other state and territory governments and New Zealand.

Mr Littleproud said it was an “illogical regulation” that “doesn’t pass the pub test” and would cost the industry dearly.

“In all of this, the forum lost the point of encouraging consumers to make healthy choices,” he said in a statement.

“We want Australians to consume more fresh fruit and vegetables – 100 per cent fresh fruit and vegetable juice with no added sugar can make a healthy contribution.”

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