Peak body for the Australian Fruit Juice industry, Fruit Juice Australia (FJA) has hit back at the Dieticians Association of Australia for comments in an article published by the Age.
The article stated that that apple juice can contain up to as much sugar as soft drinks and that excess consumption can lead to weight gain and other health issues.
'It's just like drinking Cola-Cola, it's no different,'' DAA spokeswoman Kellie Bilinski said.
''That's the misconception that people think, 'oh it's good for me'. I would much prefer people drank water and ate the fruit.''
FJA CEO, Geoff Parker argued that 100 percent fruit juices are far more nutritious than soft drinks, and that the sugar content comes directly from the fruit itself.
“The continued demonisation of juice based on its sugar content is disappointing and sending a wrong message to people about the role of juice in the diet," said Parker. "This is especially so for parents.”
FJA recently commissioned an online consumer survey as well as evidence-based research reviews on the validity of ‘scaremongering’ claims surrounding fruit juice.
The online consumer survey of 1,000 Australian parents aimed to shed light on the validity of negative health claims surrounding fruit juice, including portion sizes and sugar content.
Findings in the survey indicate that one in four parents feels guilty about feeding their children fruit juice, and that parents in general are conflicted about the issue.
“The pendulum has swung too far in terms of disapproval by some commentators for what is in reality a healthy, natural option for children. We’re simply asking people to consider the facts about juice,” he said.