Fruit Juice Added Water

An analytical test using analysis of the stable isotope signature of oxygen is provided to verify labelling claims of fruit juices labelled as ‘not from concentrate’.

Fera Science Ltd (Fera) offers testing of fruit juices using state of the art facilities.

Within the EU, “the composition of fruit juices, their reserved names, their manufacturing characteristics and their labelling” is controlled by Council Directive 2001/11/EC. The labelling claim ‘not from concentrate’ is permitted only when the fruit juice adheres to these claims. Consumer attitude is such that this is a desired labelling claim. Unconcentrated fruit juices have higher transportation costs and are likely to be more expensive than those that are transported as a concentrate and subsequently diluted with water. Therefore, the potential of economically motivated fraud is present. When water is added to fruit juice concentrates, it is typically potable ground water. The isotopic signature of oxygen in this water is different from the one present in water of fruit juices. Fera uses isotope analysis of oxygen to determine whether the oxygen signature is consistent with natural fruit juices or a mislabelling of diluted concentrates has occurred.