Juices from Concentrate

[DC]

Does anyone know if juices from concentrate are Vegan friendly? I was looking at Pom brand juice yesterday at the store and noticed that it was from juice and concentrate. It seems like since its made partially from concentrate that it would have refined sugar in it. Could anyone clear this up for me? Also if they are not safe, can someone give me a few examples of juices that are ok?

[Mr Flibble]

concentrated just means that they extract the water in the country where the fruit is picked, then re-add it where it's sold. It's cheaper, and one could argue it's better for the environment as it saves shipping water around the world. Whether or not the jucie is vegan or not depends really on what pesticides were used and whether the fruit had shellec added before being juiced, but that applies to fresh juice produced by your local farm as much as it does fruit grown on the other side of the world

[Pob]

I would say it would be very unlikely that shellac would be used, as the fruit would likely be grown for the express purpose of juicing it.

[Mr Flibble]

I would say it would be very unlikely that shellac would be used

Co-op own brand fresh juice (apple, orange and a few others) has a warning on the back saying it isn't vegan because shellec is sometimes used. I have to confess to not being a juice industry expert (), but it may be more common than you think. I guess some importers prepare fruit to be sold whole, then juice it instead if it doesn't get to shops in time. Some companies may also shellec all their stuff destined to be sold whole, then some of the fruit is picked out in the quality checking process (which in the UK is highly rigerous) and juiced.

[Artichoke47]

Actually, juices nowadays are sometimes filtered with gelatin. For example, apple juice SHOULD be cloudy, and if it's not, it was filtered with gelatin. I have heard that 75% of OJ is filtered using gelatin. Write to the company and find out.

I would worry more about that than a wax that was used on the skin of the fruit.

[Lily]

Co-op own brand fresh juice (apple, orange and a few others) has a warning on the back saying it isn't vegan because shellec is sometimes used.

Their pineapple one is vegan though, and says so on the carton.

[Mr Flibble]

For example, apple juice SHOULD be cloudy, and if it's not, it was filtered with gelatin

did you really mean to say "may have been" as opposed to "was"

There's non geletin ways to filter liquids, and I know several brands of non cloudy apple juice that are claimed suitable for vegans by the manufacturer

[Artichoke47]

Sure, I'll take that rephrasing! But keep in mind DC is in the US and you are in the UK. In the US, companies tend to bastardize seemingly healthy foods.

[Tigerlily]

Shouldn't they say so in their ingredients?

What about people who keep kosher or avoid animal products for other religious reasons too?!!

[mophoto]

good grief! the whole concentrate thing confused me before, now i am even more confused after reading this thread. at least now i know it doesn't have sugar...? i haven't been able to find any juice not from concentrate and i really don't want to get a juicer. i really want to make orange juice based smoothies. err

[eve]

I wouldn't use concentrate even though it is cheap - too much interference with the product. My preference is for fresh from whole fruit and 100% free from reconstituted juices, and cloudy apple has low GI so is my choice.

[DC]

This is awesome, everyone here is so helpful and knowledgeable, hopefully I will be that way soon.

[Pob]

I hadn't heard about the gelatin filtering thing

I don't get why it needs filtering at all. Squeeze it, pasteurize it (or not), stick it in a carton. How hard can it be?

[twinkle]

...
I would worry more about that than a wax that was used on the skin of the fruit.

You know what shellac is, right? here's a link about production. I like my juice without insect secretions wherever possible.

[Pilaf]

Ugh..light dawns on a marble head. No more store bought juice for me. Not unless I KNOW it's vegan friendly.

[Artichoke47]

You know what shellac is, right? here's a link about production. I like my juice without insect secretions wherever possible.

Is that the stuff made from beetles? I don't worry about it - I buy organic, not-from-concentrate juice. I'm really sorry; i don't mean to be rude, but I don't have time to look at the link right now.

[Maisiepaisie]

I was just about to pour some apple juice when I noticed it said on the carton "Not suitable for vegans - may contain shellac coated fruit". I never thought about this before but it probably applies to all non organic fruit juice, only the co op are decent enough to say so.

There's nothing in the house to drink now, I guess I'll have to go to Tesco after all

[Mr Flibble]

Is that the stuff made from beetles? I don't worry about it - I buy organic, not-from-concentrate juice. I'm really sorry; i don't mean to be rude, but I don't have time to look at the link right now.

Why is organic fruit less likely to be waxed? I'v certainly seen organic fruit that's waxed in supermarkets

[Leo]

i have read this thread several times now and i am none the wiser.... should i drink pure fruit juice or not?? The juice i buy is Asda's own brand Pure orange or Pure Apple from 100% concentrate ( thats what it says on the carton) nothing extra no added, no other ingredients

Leo xx

[Mr Flibble]

The best thing to do is request from asda their vegan products list and check. This thread points out that geletin is sometimes used in fruit juice filtering, although generally not in the UK. It also shows that shellac is coated onto fruit destined to be bought whole, but sometimes that fruit ends up being juiced for whatever reason and as such the juice may contain shellac. Now, coop are willing to say that some of their fresh juice may contain shellac, which is interesting because it makes you think which other supermarkets do the same. Really what it means is that you're always taking a chance, just as you are whenever you see fruit listed as an ingrediant that that fruit was waxed with shellac.

[Gorilla]

The best thing to do is request from asda their vegan products list and check. This thread points out that geletin is sometimes used in fruit juice filtering, although generally not in the UK.

i know that Ribena used to be made with gelatine, not that i'd buy it anyway because it's a Smithkline Beecham product. it's not a proper fruit juice either. most supermarkets mark their juices as suitable for vegetarians, but few mention whether they're vegan or the presence of shellac. last time i contacted Asda about their vegan products they didn't seem to know what the word 'vegan' meant...

[Mr Flibble]

Its not smithkline beecham anymore, it's glaxo smithkline. Makes my boycott list shorter/easier when major players on it merge. Soon I'll only hafta boycott McUniGapKlineGamble and it'll all be simple

[Leo]

The best thing to do is request from asda their vegan products list and check. This thread points out that geletin is sometimes used in fruit juice filtering, although generally not in the UK. It also shows that shellac is coated onto fruit destined to be bought whole, but sometimes that fruit ends up being juiced for whatever reason and as such the juice may contain shellac. Now, coop are willing to say that some of their fresh juice may contain shellac, which is interesting because it makes you think which other supermarkets do the same. Really what it means is that you're always taking a chance, just as you are whenever you see fruit listed as an ingrediant that that fruit was waxed with shellac.

thanks i will do that, it does state suitable for vegetarian but not Vegan, if it does come back as not suitable is anyone aware of any definate brands that are safe?? i dont like to make price an issue but we do get through alot of it in our house....

Leo xx

[Mr Flibble]

Co-op non fresh apple and orange juices are labelled vegan. Their fresh pineapple and cranberry juices are labelled vegan also.

[Leo]

thanks but we don't have any co-ops by us at all..... i will do some research into it and have emailed Asda,

Leo xx

[RedWellies]

I wonder about orange juice...even if labeled vegan the fruit may still have been waxed. Presumably the peel doen't end up in the juice so from a dietry viewpoint the juice is vegan.
I've sent an email to Del Monte to ask. Although I have no idea about their company ethics.

[Artichoke47]

I bought a juicer and love it. Cantelope juice is better than...well, lots of things.

[Jacqui]

Makes my boycott list shorter/easier when major players on it merge. Soon I'll only hafta boycott McUniGapKlineGamble and it'll all be simple

So true. So funny.

[Juice]

Just have to say that I am not from concentrate, and am definitely unfiltered.

[thecatspajamas1]

Does anyone know if juices from concentrate are Vegan friendly? I was looking at Pom brand juice yesterday at the store and noticed that it was from juice and concentrate.

POM brand juice tests on animals! http://www.pomwonderful.com/lipoprotein_oxidation.html

[Maisiepaisie]

Well all this has made me even more wary of what I drink. Why they need to take a perfectly good vegan fruit and make it non vegan is beyond me. I'd like to meet whoever came up with the crazy idea of coating fruit in insect secretions and I'd tell them exactly what I think of them!

I wouldn't have thought I need to check the labels on pure fruit juice. Even Tesco organic juice mentions something about non organic aromas added, whatever that means I finally bought 100% pure organic apple juice from the Organic Juice Co (not from concentrate, yay!!) Very expensive but worth it!

[Mr Flibble]

Why they need to take a perfectly good vegan fruit and make it non vegan is beyond me

It makes it more shiny. People in the UK have extremely high standards when it comes to fruit all looking identical and asthetically pleasing, even if that perfect stereotype of what fruit should look like is made up. In other countries they simply don't bother, but here they do it because it sells more. Profit - pure and simple.

[Leo]

i recieved this reply from my email to Asda regarding their juices


Thank you for your message.

Thank you for your email.

I now have a response from our Technical Manager which is as follows -

I can confirm that all the pure fruit juices from concentrate are free from
shellac and gelatine. Neither shellac or gelatine are used in the processing in
any of the juices used in our pure fruit juices from concentrate.

I am sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. I hope we can look
forward to serving you again soon in one of our ASDA stores.

Kind Regards
Gaynor Lawton
ASDA Customer Relations

[Span]

I've sent an email to Del Monte to ask. Although I have no idea about their company ethics.

http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/magaz...e.htm#delmonte

[Pilaf]

*sigh* I do buy a lot of orange juice from concentrate.

It's a budget thing. If I were a multimillionaire with endless capital for spending, I'd be able to be more of a true vegan.

[Tigerlily]

How would you be a true vegan?

[tipsy]

POM brand juice tests on animals! http://www.pomwonderful.com/lipoprotein_oxidation.html

im crying right now!

what a shitload!

i was laughing the otherday when my roommate showed me that the side of her Wallgreens brand cranberry juice said vegan on the side of it.

now maybe ill have to end up drinking that shiiiit!

sorry, im rather pissed about poms bad news.

[tipsy]

guess whos getting a strongly worder letter????

[RedWellies]

Thanks for that link, Span.

I wrote to Tesco about their juice. Here's their response...

Please can you tell me if the fruit used for your fruit juices has been waxed with shellac or any other animal derivative?
Also, have any of the juices been filtered using gelatine
Answer:

No to all parts of the question

[RedWellies]

This is Del Monte's response for juices in the UK and Europe...
Currently Del Monte does not have any fresh juice in its range. All our juices are heat treated prior to filling. However if we do enter the fresh juice market the raw materials would be prepared the same way as for UHT packed juices.

We confirm that none of our juices are made with any animal products at any stage. The filling of the clear juices is done by ultrafiltration.

All our juices are suitable for vegans and any new ones introduced would be done so that they still comply with this requirement.

The above applies to all juices under our label produced in the UK and sold in Europe.

[RedWellies]

I contacted Britvic to ask about their juices. Here's the reply...

We would like to inform you that we take our guidelines from the Vegan Society , who state on their website that:

A vegan eats a plant-based diet free from all animal products, including milk, eggs and honey. Most vegans do not wear leather, wool or silk.

In addition to this we ask our suppliers to confirm the suitability of our ingredients for a number of dietary requirements (including Veganism).

Our records currently show that the following products are not suitable for a Vegan diet, based on data received from suppliers and the statement from the Vegan Society as shown above.

Purdey's Activation
Purdey's Rejuvenation
Robinsons For Milk Strawberry & Raspberry (regular and NAS)
Robinsons For Milk Fruity Banana (regular and NAS)

Our fruit expert has now spoken to our suppliers and has been advised that the majority of the clarified juice we purchase is clarified using an ultrafiltration technique, however in exceptional circumstances our suppliers reserve the right to clarify by using gelatine as a processing aid.

That last bit is no good

[Elektra]

i recently found out that orange and apple juice is not vegan....? it contains shellac coated fruit (ground up beetle backs) they use this to give the fruit a shine if yu are a juice drinker or an apple eater like me then stick to organic juice and fruit.... which is shellac free.....

[Lyns]

Organic doesn't always mean it is shellac free! You have to ask your supplier.

You can also get fruit juices which are shellac free, I don't have a list off the top of my head, but you can write to the manufacturer.

[Maisiepaisie]

I've always assumed organic meant shellac free, at least in the UK

[Jane M]

That's what I thought also.

[Artichoke47]

Most orange and apple juices in the US are filtered with gelatin.

[Risker]

I don't understand why they'd shellac the fruit if they were going to juice it... Never thought about it before.

Found this website: http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-.../sect/DFJ.html

[Lyns]

Maybe I'm wrong, sorry! I just looked at my book about food labels (v interesting) and it says only 30 additives are allowed in organic food (in the uk) and shellac (E904) isn't on that list.

[tipsy]

what book is that?

sounds like good stuff!

[Lyns]

L is for labels by Amanda Ursell apparently the uk's "leading nutritionist" but I've never heard of her. It's an ok book, it's aimed at absolute beginners and goes over the basic laws about food labelling. It makes you think about how foods are marketed, often as healthy options when they're not really. However, a lot of it is a case of stating the bleeding obvious and all of the info I'm sure you can find on the internet for free, otherwise get it from your library rather than buying it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...141973-2034012