Hosts sharing a carton
Match the stated servings to the number of guests, then consider whether any opened juice can be used within the carton’s instructions.
Who is this for?
Shoppers looking for no added sugar
Check the exact product’s claim and ingredients, as well as its total sugars value. Juice can contain naturally occurring sugars without added sugar.
Shoppers comparing supermarket cartons
Compare pack volume, sugars on the same measurement basis, whether the juice is from concentrate and the instructions for use after opening.
What should you check?
Start with the no-added-sugar wording and nutrition panel, then work out how many small glasses you need and what will happen to any leftovers.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| No added sugar | Look for the claim on the exact pack, read the ingredients and compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100ml or per 150ml. Tesco Groceries lists 15g sugars per 150ml for Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice 1.5L despite its no-added-sugar statement. | I want no added sugar, but I also want to know how much sugar is in a glass. |
| Servings | Use 150ml glasses to estimate the number needed. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. | Several people will share the juice, so a carton should cover the planned glasses without assuming everyone needs a large serving. |
| Leftovers | Read the refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions for the exact carton. The checked Tropicana and Sainsbury’s products say five days; the checked Copella, ASDA and M&S products say four days. | If juice will be left after the film, I need a carton size that fits our plans for the following days. |
| Juice style | Check whether the product is cloudy, pressed or made from concentrate, and compare ingredients and nutrition separately. Processing wording alone does not establish its sugars value. | I may prefer cloudy or sparkling juice, but I do not want the style description to stand in for a label check. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
The claim does not remove sugars naturally present in juice. Tesco Groceries lists 15g sugars per 150ml for its checked Tropicana and Copella cartons.
Read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ value, using the same serving size when comparing cartons.
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Buying the largest carton without planning for leftovers
The checked cartons have different instructions for use after opening: four or five days, depending on the product.
Estimate the number of 150ml glasses needed and follow the chosen carton’s refrigeration and use-after-opening directions.
Juice left beyond the stated period may go unused.
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Assuming every apple-labelled drink has the same ingredients
The checked Sainsbury’s pressed juice lists apple juice as its sole ingredient; Joybuy’s Huiyuan Apple Juice listing names water and apple juice concentrate.
Check the product description and ingredient list for the exact drink rather than choosing from the word ‘apple’ alone.
Apple juice brands and ranges
Tropicana
Tesco Groceries lists a 1.5L pressed apple juice carton with an explicit no-added-sugar statement and ten 150ml servings.
- The listed sugars value is 15g per 150ml.
- Use within five days of opening; no added sugar does not mean sugar-free.
Copella
The checked 1.35L cloudy apple juice is not from concentrate and provides nine 150ml servings.
- Tesco Groceries lists apple juice and vitamin C, with 15g sugars per 150ml.
- Refrigerate and consume within four days of opening.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists a Tesco 100% Pressed Apple Juice 1L alongside branded cartons in its apple juice range.
- A 1L own-label format to consider when comparing carton sizes.
- Check the exact pack’s ingredients, nutrition panel and storage directions before choosing it.
Sainsbury’s
Its checked 1L 100% pressed apple juice is described as never from concentrate.
- Sainsbury’s lists apple juice as the sole ingredient and 13g sugars per 150ml.
- Use within five days of opening.
Asda
The checked 1L ASDA apple juice is described as pressed and never from concentrate.
- ASDA lists apple juice and vitamin C, with 16g sugars per 150ml.
- Refrigerate after opening and use within the stated four-day period.
M&S
Its checked pressed cloudy apple juice comes in a 1.75L carton for shoppers planning several servings.
- Marks & Spencer lists 10.6g sugars per 100g; this is a different measurement basis from the per-150ml figures above.
- Keep refrigerated and drink within four days of opening.
Apple juice options on Joybuy
These options include a 1L still apple juice for sharing and a six-can sparkling apple juice pack. Check the exact label if an explicit no-added-sugar claim is essential to your choice.
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Huiyuan Apple Juice 1L
The 1L pack can be divided into several small glasses for movie night. Joybuy lists water and apple juice concentrate as ingredients and 10.2g sugars per 100ml. Check the pack’s instructions for storage after opening when planning leftovers.
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Appletiser 100% Apple Juice Lightly Sparkling 6 x 250ml
Six separate 250ml cans offer a sparkling option for guests. Each can is larger than the NHS’s 150ml daily combined limit for fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies. Check the exact pack for a no-added-sugar statement if you require one.
Frequently asked questions
Does no-added-sugar apple juice contain sugar?
Yes, it can contain sugars naturally present in the juice. Tesco Groceries states that its checked Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice has no added sugar and lists 15g sugars per 150ml.
How much apple juice should I plan per person?
A 150ml glass is a useful planning unit. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day, so count guests and servings before choosing a carton size.
How long can I keep an opened carton?
Follow the exact carton’s refrigeration and use-after-opening instructions. The checked Tropicana and Sainsbury’s cartons say five days, while the checked Copella, ASDA and M&S cartons say four days.
Does pressed or not-from-concentrate juice contain less sugar?
Those descriptions do not establish a sugars value. The checked pressed, not-from-concentrate Sainsbury’s juice lists 13g sugars per 150ml, while the checked ASDA pressed juice lists 16g per 150ml; compare the exact nutrition panels on the same basis.