The amount of sugar in many fruit juices and drinks made for children is "unacceptably high," a British study says.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool looked at 203 products marketed for children in the United Kingdom and found that many contained an entire day's worth of sugar in just one serving.
The findings, published in the journal BMJ Open, raise questions about the sugar content in U.S. fruit juice products for kids.
In the study, about half of the drinks — including juices, fruit drinks and smoothies — contained five teaspons of sugar or more. That's equal to the upper limit of sugar intake recommended for children in a single day.
"Manufacturers must stop adding unnecessary sugars and calories" to their fruit juices, juice drinks and smoothies, the researchers wrote.
U.S. officials from the juice industry fired back. "Parents should feel good about serving 100 percent juice to their children in appropriate amounts as a body of research shows drinking 100 percent juice is not associated with dental [cavities] in early childhood and, in fact, some studies show greater frequency of juice drinking may even have a protective effect on dental health in children," the U.S.-based Juice Products Association said in a statement.
"To Your Health" offers quick doses of health news several times a week.
Allie Shah • 612-673-4488
