Sunny Delight is a drink that reminds me of my summer vacations when I was little; I don't really know if it was because my parents ever bought it for me or because of the number of times I saw the ad on television. A few days ago the same thing happened to me, I was having dinner and an ad from Sunny popped up telling me about the new properties. Without preservatives or colourings, with multiple vitamins and with 55% less sugar, what more could you ask for from an industrial juice?
There are many parents who want to change their children's eating habits and resort to products that play with the amount of ingredients they contain. We analyze if it is true that this new version of Sunny Delight is better than the original and if it is worth it to continue investing money in this juice (spoiler: no!).
You have to be very attentive to all the information because we are going to discover something that has left us stunned, since it is not a new product but the same one, with outstanding information in such a way that it gives rise to very serious confusion.
Soft drink with less sugar?
It is very striking that the first sentence of the ad is "It's amazing that your child likes a soda with less sugar«. Does low sugar mean it's not sweet? Perhaps the problem lies in the fact that we have a palate accustomed to flavors with excess sugar, and this is a mistake that comes from childhood.
Sunny Delight is advertised with 55% less sugar, but there's fine print! Less sugar compared to other non-carbonated fruit drinks that already exist on the market. The serious thing about the matter is that this 55% less sugar that they advertise with hype and saucer does not mean that it is the amount that they have taken from it compared to the previous one, but that they have done a market study and have realized that their juice with dyes called Sunny Delight has 55% less sugar than the competition.
They play with misinformation, manipulate the consumer and deceive us because they want to and can. That is why it is important to be informed and read all labels. Normally when it puts an asterisk it is that they usually explain it on the back, although it is usually an almost illegible letter and very little information.
In the nutritional table the ingredients are usually exposed and we have to be clear that, if sugar or artificial sweeteners appear among the first 3 ingredients, it is better not to buy that product. Also, you have to look at the average values for every 100 grams of product. 100 grams is usually the standardized amount for nutritional information in Spain, although it is best to look at the exact amount, for example, 200 ml in the case of Sunny Delight.
Another important detail is the amounts of fruit that it brings, in this case, only 5% of the 200 ml is fruit content and also from concentrates, which is not recommended under any circumstances.
Ingredient Analysis
Now that we know that there really is no reduction in the sugars present, let's analyze all the components:
- Water.
- Fruit juice from concentrates. Only 5% of all the content and, furthermore, it is not even natural. Juices based on concentrates are those that undergo a treatment on a squeezed juice to dehydrate it and then mix it with water again. They usually add preservatives, sugars and dyes to make it look like freshly squeezed juice again. That is to say, it is the worst way to drink a fruit juice.
- Sugar.
- Acidity regulators.
- stabilizers:
- E-452i (sodium polyphosphate). It is used as a stabilizer and emulsifier. This type of phosphate-based additive can alter some metabolic processes, and even be detrimental to kidney health.
- Xanthan gum
- cellulose gum
- Natural fragrance.
- Vitamins: B6, C, D, E. They are the third from last in the list of ingredients, so the presence of these vitamins is so minimal that it is not worth noting it on the product cover.
- Sweeteners: sodium cyclamate and sucralose
- Dyes: bright blue. Eye! They claimed it was without artificial colors, but it's hard to believe how bright blue (like floor cleaner) is added to a drink.
It is basically an unhealthy drink for children. Despite having water as the main ingredient, it is followed by two types of sugars that have little to do with a natural juice. It is true that it has less sugar than the original recipe, but they are balanced with sweeteners. These substances are not as aggressive for the body, but they have the same effect in terms of creating insulin spikes after consuming it.
In addition, these drinks are not usually taken in isolation, since children usually eat some type of snack or cookie. This generates a very high energy intake, based on rapidly absorbed carbohydrates. With which, it is normal that after a short time they feel more hungry and their energy levels plummet.
On the other hand, the presence of fruits is not remarkable. Despite containing orange, grapefruit, tangerine, blueberry and lime, these appear in the form of concentrated juice. That is, the beneficial nutrients of these foods are not ingested. In the case of wanting to increase the intake of fruit in the life of a child, it is not recommended to do so through juices. It is better to consume them in their natural state or, in the event that the child cannot bite correctly, they can be made into fruit purees.
Healthy Alternatives to Sunny Delight
The smallest bottle of Sunny Delight is a 200 ml format, which contains 6 g of sugar. Normally, this drink is consumed with a snack (cookies, chips, sandwiches...), which increases sugar intake in a single meal.
According to the WHO, the maximum amount of added sugar that a child can eat per day is 25 grams. But the vast majority tend to even triple that figure, since parents offer their children this type of juice, as well as other sugary shakes, cookies and industrial pastries of all kinds and flavors.
This diet increases the chances that children will develop childhood obesity and even in their adulthood have type 2 diabetes and cholesterol Due to bad eating habits acquired from childhood, they can develop heart problems and cancer.
It is not only about eating healthy and varied, physical exercise must go hand in hand with those eating habits. A sedentary lifestyle is as destructive for children and adults as a diet based on ultra-processed foods.
If our intention is to drink a fruit juice (although it really is water with 5% concentrated juice), it is better to choose to do it at home. We always give the same advice, when we go to choose a food that replaces another, the best option is to take the original product or ingredient.
Among the main healthy options or alternatives to Sunny Delight we find water with pieces of natural fruit, lemonade or orangeade with Stevia. You can also make natural juices in a blender (remove large bones and inedible skins), make popsicles with mineral water and pieces of fruit or with natural Greek yogurt (without sugar). We can even put pieces of fruit in an ice bucket, fill the holes with water and create refreshing drinks with fruits, among other options.