Fruit punch is a go-to choice for many people looking to quench their thirst in summer.
One of the popular brands in this segment is Minute Maid.
Minute Maid fruit punch is a popular fruit juice drink made by Coca-Cola.
It is a ready-to-drink fruit juice made with filtered water and fruit juice concentrates.
It mainly comes in two varieties – one with sugar (regular variety) and another without sugar (zero sugar variety).
And while there is no doubt that Minute Maid fruit punch tastes delicious, is it a healthy choice?
Short answer: Minute Maid fruit punch is not a healthy choice because it contains a small amount of real fruit juices (3 to 5%), high added sugar from high fructose corn syrup, carcinogenic aspartame, and is low in nutrients compared to fresh fruit juices.
Read on to find out more about Minute Maid fruit punch, including it’s ingredients, sugar content and more.
Read also: Is Minute Maid Lemonade Healthy? Here’s The truth
What are the ingredients in Minute Maid fruit punch?
Minute Maid fruit punch comes in two varieties.
So, the exact ingredients change a bit depending on which one you’re drinking.
In general, Minute Maid fruit punch is made from pure filtered water and fruit concentrate as the primary ingredients.
Note that Minute Maid fruit punch is made with just 3 to 5% of the juice blend, which is extremely low.
Here’s the table showing the ingredients in both varieties.
| Variety | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Regular | Pure Filtered Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Grape and Pineapple Juices from Concentrate, Less Than 1% of: Pear and Apple Juices from Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid (Provides Tartness), Sucralose, Grape Skin Extract (for Color). |
| Zero sugar | Pure Filtered Water, Lemon Juice from Concentrate, Less Than 2% of: Grape and Pineapple Juices from Concentrate, Apple Purée from Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid (Provides Tartness), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Grape Skin Extract (for Color). |
The good news is Minute Maid fruit punch doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
However, it does include unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup (in the regular variety) and artificial sweeteners like aspartame (in the zero sugar variety).
But the bottom line is that due to the High fructose corn syrup and Aspartame, Minute Maid fruit punch is not the healthiest beverage choice.
How much sugar is in Minute Maid fruit punch?
The regular variety of Minute Maid fruit punch is high in sugar, containing 24g per serving (240ml).
Out of this, 22g is added sugar.
That’s about 73% of the daily added sugar limit for men and 88% for women set by the American Heart Association.
However, this is not the worst part.
The worst part is that added sugar is derived from High fructose corn syrup, which has been linked to an increased risk of fatty liver disease, obesity, weight gain and diabetes[1].
If you are limiting sugar intake, it’s best to avoid the regular variety.
What about the zero sugar variety?
Well, while the zero sugar variety skips high fructose corn syrup, it brings in aspartame for the sweetness.
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is much sweeter than sugar.
However, it is not safe as it has been classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)[2].
Is Minute Maid fruit punch a good source of vitamin C?
The zero sugar variety of Minute Maid fruit punch is a good source of vitamin C, containing 80% of the daily value.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that helps in many ways, such as making collagen, healing wounds and boosting immunity. It also acts as an antioxidant and protects cells from damage.
However, the regular variety does not contain vitamin C.
Is Minute Maid fruit punch good for weight loss?
Minute Maid fruit punch is not ideal for weight loss as it contains a significant amount of added sugar.
Sure, it’s got a low-calorie count, just 90 per serving. But all those calories are coming from sugar, so they are basically empty calories.
The zero sugar variety seems like a good option for weight loss, but it contains aspartame, a potential carcinogenic.
If you are craving fruit juices on a weight loss diet, it’s better to go for homemade juice or juices with low sugar and no artificial additives.
Note that weight loss depends not only on one food but overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Minute Maid fruit punch gluten-free?
Minute Maid fruit punch is gluten-free as it does not contain any gluten-based ingredients.
Is Minute Maid fruit punch vegan?
Minute Maid fruit punch is vegan since it doesn’t contain animal-based ingredients.
However, the regular variety has sucralose, which may fear some vegans.
Although sucralose doesn’t contain animal by-products, its creation often involves animal testing.
As a result, most ethical vegans avoid food containing sucralose.
Final words
After looking at the ingredients and nutritional value, it can be concluded that Minute Maid fruit punch is not a healthy beverage choice.
Here’s why:
- It contains a small amount of real fruit juices (3 to 5%).
- It is high in added sugar coming from High fructose corn syrup.
- It contains carcinogenic aspartame.
- Low in nutrients as compared to fresh fruit juices.
Although it is a good source of vitamin C, it is not a sufficient substitute for whole fruits or freshly squeezed juice.
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