Does purchased orange juice taste like freshly squeezed juice?
In the morning, many people drink a delicious, fruity orange juice for breakfast to start the day with a vitamin kick. Apart from the often high sugar content, orange juice contains other nutrients that are important for the body. These include the mineral potassium, as well as vitamins B9 (folic acid) and C. Vitamin C supports the immune system and also improves iron absorption from food. But should the juice rather be freshly squeezed, or can you resort to a packaged juice?
To evaluate the quality of packaged orange juices, 20 juice samples (five of which were certified organic) were recently tested by Ökotest. All products contained 100 percent fruit juice from direct juice or orange juice concentrate. In addition to the ingredients, the aroma and taste of the juices were also examined. How did Ökotest rate the juices?
Primarily very good ingredients
In conventional farming, oranges are often treated with pesticides to protect them from pests. During juice production, the pesticides can then enter the juice. The maximum levels of pesticide residues are regulated in Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005. Fortunately, however, no pesticide residues were detected in any sample.
The vitamin C content of the fruit juices was also, with one exception, above the minimum natural content of 200 milligrams per liter recommended in the German guiding principles for fruit juices. Vitamin C was added to one product. Added vitamins must be marked on the label, according to Article 7 (2) of Regulation (EU) No. 1925/2006.
The flavor analysis also turned out well
Only one direct juice stood out negatively in the aroma analysis. The testers found that the aroma spectrum of the direct juice corresponded more to an improperly rearomatized orange juice made from fruit juice concentrate.
Direct juices are pressed from whole fruit. Drinking water must not be added to them. They may be pasteurized to preserve them, and natural fruit flavors may be added to fine-tune the aroma.
In the production of fruit juices from concentrate, the sweet and sour concentrate is rearomatized with natural fruit flavoring, as the flavoring substances have previously been lost. The mixture is then topped up with drinking water until the liquid resembles a typical orange juice.
Not all juices tasted as freshly squeezed
Consumers want the taste, smell and appearance of the juice they buy to resemble that of freshly squeezed juice. But how did the juices perform in the test? Most of the juices tasted and smelled of oranges, but not as distinctly as a freshly squeezed juice. The testing sensory experts therefore only awarded the grade "very good" three times for juices that tasted to them like freshly squeezed juice. Some juices also showed brownish color reflections. These reflections may indicate that the juice has already lost freshness or was heated too much during the production process.
The Tentamus laboratories test your fruit juices
You would like to offer your customers a fruity drinking pleasure at the breakfast table? The laboratories of the Tentamus Group, equipped with the latest laboratory technology, will be happy to support you in the analysis of your fruit juices using chemical, microbiological, physical and physical-chemical methods. We also offer aroma and pesticide analysis and support you in your quality management.
We are also happy to carry out sensory testing of your fruit juices. Our trained team of experts has many years of experience in the sensory analysis of fruit juices and evaluates the taste, odor, and appearance of your beverages in accordance with legal requirements. In this way, you receive an all-around delicious and safe product.
Read more about contamination of food or sensory testing here.
Source: Ökotest