Fruit juice in children's diets

An analysis of fruit juice consumption from the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey has found that including fruit juice in the diet helps children aged 2-16 years meet their recommended daily serves of fruit (1). The analysis was commissioned by Fruit Juice Australia in conjunction with the Australian Beverages Council Ltd and undertaken by Flinders Partners, a subsiduary of Flinders University.

The review found:-

• Including fruit juice in the diet helps children achieve their recommended daily fruit serves according to the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) (2). When fruit juice was consumed, 90% of children aged 2-3 years consumed one serve of fruit/day compared to 68% who didn't consume juice. (The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating does not provide recommended serves for children aged 2-3 years). For 4-8 year olds, 93% met the recommended 2 serves of fruit per day when fruit juice was included compared to 61% who didn't consume juice
• Children averaged around 122mls per day of juice, about one serve of fruit in the AGHE.
• Juice was a major contributor of vitamin C, carbohydrate, folate and potassium. Children consuming juice had lower intakes of saturated fat, total fat, protein and caffeine.
• Over 50% of children consumed juice at meals and midmeals thus minimising the risk of dental caries
• Juice intake did not compromise calcium intake. There was no difference in calcium intake between consumers and non consumers of juice suggesting that juice did not replace milk/dairy foods.
• Juice contributed on average about 2% of energy to the total diet, a level similar to that found in the 1995 National Nutrition Survey suggesting no association between fruit juice intake and overweight in children and adolescents.

Fruit juice can make an important nutriitonal contribution to a child's diet. It should form part of a varied diet coupled with an active lifestyle.

References:

1.Landon S, Baghurst K. Findings from the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. April 2010.  Fruit Juice Australia; Australian Beverages Council Ltd, Level 1, 6-8 Crewe Place Roseberry. NSW 2018

2. DHFS. Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Department of Health and Family Services, Canberrra 1998.