Picking out an orange juice used to be so simple. Now supermarket shelves are stocked full of choices. How do you choose?
To help you make your best decision, Consumer Reports pitted Tropicana Original pure premium against other Tropicanas with extras: Calcium plus vitamin D, antioxidant advantage, healthy kids and healthy heart with omega-3s. All were no-pulp.
All give you the same amount of calories, sugars, potassium and at least 100 per cent of your daily vitamin C per serving.
As for the taste, Consumer Reports' Erin Gudeux found "all the juices tasted pretty much the same."
All of these Tropicana juices cost about the same, too. But do the extras make the juices any healthier? The ones with calcium have as much as a glass of skim milk, and as much vitamin D - but what about the rest of the extras?
"Well, as far as the added vitamins, you're probably better off getting those from the foods you eat than from a fortified product," Gudeux said.
Consumer Reports also took a look at Tropicana 50 with 50 per cent less sugar.
"Well, the testers said that it had a thinner consistency and a less intense orange juice flavor," she said. "And it also costs more."
But if you want to cut calories and sugar just add seltzer or water to your regular orange juice ... and save your money!
When it comes to antioxidants, there's no reason to buy foods fortified with them. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada says it's not necessary to take antioxidant supplements, either. It's far better to eat antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
