Soda was once the Big Bad Wolf of student health reform measures. After all, an estimated 41% of a student’s sugar intake once came solely from liquids, according to the Center for Disease Control—and soda comprised a large portion of those liquids. The sugary, carbonated beverages have now largely disappeared from school vending machines and lunch offerings, but that doesn’t mean sugary drinks are gone completely.
Some private-independent schools and public institutions are slowly phasing out juice—even 100% fruit juice with no added sugar—though research is conflicted on whether these sweet substitutes are as unhealthy as soda.
Valence Primary School in Dagenham, Essex, for example, banned all juices from its campus as “part of a new health drive,” according to the Telegraph. The change comes after the English government adviser on obesity said that orange juice contains just as much sugar as a serving of Coca-Cola.
Parents weren’t thrilled by this change, going so far as to disguise juice in reuseable bottles to make sure their children had something to drink during the day. One mother claimed that the school was forcing these “not compulsory” suggestions onto the community in an effort to win the London Healthy Schools award, sponsored by the mayor to promote healthier student policies.
Health awards aren’t the only motivation schools have for pulling juice from their beverage selections. Some boarding schools have gone so far as to eliminate juice from their cafeterias altogether, saving thousands of dollars (and possibly their students’ teeth). One school on our Business Managers e-List saves an estimated $50,000 a year by not providing juice, instead offering milk and water.
But what are the true health advantages and disadvantages of juice?
Juice—unadulterated, pure fruit or vegetable juice—does provide healthy benefits in the form of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and phosphorus. Nutritionists allow one serving of juiced fruit or vegetables a day to count toward the recommended daily servings of fruit or veggies required for a healthy diet.
But just one serving of juice—no more. That’s due to fruit’s naturally high sugar levels. Even with no sugar added, a single serving of juice can have as much sugar as a serving of soda. In fact, one study found that a liter of Minute Maid 100% Apple Juice has 66 grams of fructose—a type of sugar—while a liter of Coca-Cola has only 62.5 grams. The juicing process also eliminates much of the fruit's naturally occurring fiber, which is essential for any healthy diet.
The American Association of Pediatrics says that there whole fruit is more nutritionally valuable than fruit juice, and that juice consumption should be limited to 4–6 ounces a day. (Older children can have 8–12 ounces daily.)
Should your school decide to limit access to juice to its students, such policy changes should be transparent and made with support from your community. Consider if such policy changes are in line with your school’s mission and vision, as well as any potential roadblocks to your families accepting the policy. Parents should be approached as partners in this process and not feel disenfranchised by the school—seemingly unilaterally—making decisions that impact how parents can (or cannot) feed their children.
Has your school decided to eliminate all sugary drinks from its campus? Can juice and soda still be found in your cafeteria? We’d love to hear how you’ve tackled this tricky health issue, either in the comment section here or on Twitter, using the #isminc hashtag.
Additional ISM resources:
Private School News Vol. 12 No. 7 How The Health Care Reform Is Affecting Educators—And Students
Private School News Vol. 11 No. 2 Bullying the Food Allergic Student
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members:
I&P Vol. 29 No. 8 Food Services for Day Schools: Student Wellness
