Do you know whatβs really in your βhealthyβ fruit pouch?
What I’ve discovered may surprise you.
As a working mum of three I rely on handy and time-saving snacks both at home and on the go, and fruit based pouches are one of my go-to products, both for the kids and for us.
The kids eat them for breakfast, lunch or pudding as well as for snacks, Misery Guts uses them pre and post workout for his ultra-marathon training and I use them because theyβre handy when youβre trying to eat and breastfeed at the same time.
When I first became a mum there were just a handful of fruit pouch brands out there, but the market is growing and there are now lots of different products to choose from.
So how do you know which ones are the best?
If youβre a parent going shopping with the kids in tow the chances are your main aim is to get in and out of a shop in the fastest possible time with the least possible drama.
As a result itβs easy to be swayed by claims on packaging because who has the time to actually read labels when youβve got one child asking for this and that and another one (or two) trying to swipe at shelves from the pushchair (which fellow shoppers assume youβve parked in the middle of an aisle to be annoying, but in fact is the only place where the kids canβt reach anything)?
But if you do take the time to read the labels what youβll find is in many cases surprising and in some cases quite frankly shocking.
Iβve undertaken a little experiment and picked fruit based pouches from some of the leading brands to see how healthy they really are, and how much sugar and how many calories they actually contain.
Hereβs what I found.
Whatβs REALLY in your βhealthyβ fruit pouch?
FruityPot Apple & Blackcurrant Jelly Squeeze
There are four big ticks on the front of this pouch telling me that FruityPotβs apple and blackcurrant Jelly Squeeze contains no artificial colours, no preservatives, no added sugar or artificial sweeteners and that itβs made with real fruit juice, but what it doesnβt tell me on the front of the packaging is that each pouch contains 18.9g of sugar per 100g β thatβs 4.5 cubes of sugar, or almost the entire daily recommended amount of sugar for a four to six-year-old. Yikes.
Del Monte Apple, Strawberry & Banana Squeezie
Once again the makers of this fruit pouch – Del Monte – are happy to say whatβs not in the product on the front of the packet but theyβre not so forthcoming when it comes to what is in it. Namely 61 calories and 14g or 3 cubes of sugar per 100g. Which is a lot of sugar, especially for the kids at whom it is aimed β more than half their recommended daily allowance in fact.
Heinz Peach & Apricot Fruitz
Thereβs no added sugar in Heinzβs peach and apricot Fruitz and each pouch contains 100% fruit and vitamin C – but thereβs still 48 calories and 9.5g of sugar per 100g. While this isnβt the worst offender on the market, itβs by no means the best either.
Fuel 10K Strawberry & Banana Quark with Fruit
Designed for breakfast Fuel 10Kβs strawberry and banana quark with fruit contains 71 calories and 7.9g of sugar per 100g, making it one of the lowest sugar fruit based pouches on the market. Itβs also high protein and low fat, which is good news if youβre watching what you eat.
The Collective Pro-Yo Berries
With just 7.4g of sugar and 92 calories per 100g The Collectiveβs Pro-Yo berries yoghurt is also one of the lowest sugar pouches on the market. At the same time itβs got 11.2g of protein per 100g β or 14g per pouch β so one of the highest protein contents on the market. The berries are a mix of boysenberry, blueberry and acai so tick the superfood box too.
Quaker Red Fruits Fruit & Oat Squeeze
A blend of oats, yoghurt, fruit puree and fruit juice Quakerβs Fruit & Oat Squeeze contains 85 calories and 7.3g of sugar per 100g, which is actually a lot less than I expected! The only claim on the front of the packaging is that it has no added sugar β Iβm just surprised by how little it actually contains as itβs the sort of product Iβd imagine containing a lot more.
Naturelly Summer Fruits Juicy Jelly
Aimed at kids aged two to 8 β and used by vegetarian and vegan grown-ups and as a sports snack – Naturelly jelly juice is the healthiest fruit pouch I came across with just 7.2g of sugar β thatβs 1.5 cubes β per 100g and 36 calories. Interestingly, instead of telling shoppers what it doesnβt contain on the front of the packaging like many of its rivals, the only claim on the front of Naturellyβs packaging is thatβs itβs βsweet by nature with nothing naughtyβ. Which I have to say is rather refreshing.
So whatβs the moral of my little experiment?
Always read the label β even if the kids are asking for this and that and swiping at shelves while you do it!
Do you buy fruit pouches for your family? Do you take the time to read the labels to make sure you know whatβs in them, or has the calorie and sugar content of some of these come as a surprise? Iβd love to hear your thoughts!
This post was written in collaboration with Healthier Brands Limited.
I always check the label as I totally get what you are saying. Some of the sugar content in foods in crazy. I’m quite lucky that both the girls don’t really like the pouches and tend to either refuse fruit (lol). My baby loves the whole fruit! Great post and thanks for sharing with #bloggersbest x
It’s funny how so many people assume fruit products like this are healthy when they’re packed full of sugar just like smoothies. I think so.lkng as they’re an odd treat then its ok in moderation and the naturelly ones are obviously best but I can imagine expensive! #bloggersbest
Hi Natalie, it can be deceiving just how unhealthy some products are and when you are a busy Mum it’s easy to grab and run. Fruit pooches weren’t around when my two were small which may have been a Godsend really.
xx
That’s really interesting, I actually reviewed Naturelly when it first came out and thought it brilliant and did also compare it to others. Even with that I had umpteen comments from people shocked saying it was high in sugar (which really annoyed me as it was all natural ). I’ve not seen some you’ve mentioned here, and I’ll stick with Naturelly I think! #bloggersbest