Households wanting orange juice
If you mean juice made from oranges rather than a squash or juice drink, look for a 100% juice description and check the ingredients. Pure juice can have no added sugar and still contain naturally occurring sugars.
Who is each option for?
The useful distinction is between orange juice you drink as sold and an orange drink intended for dilution; the words “no added sugar” do not settle that choice.
Households choosing a drink to dilute
A no-added-sugar high juice or squash is a separate option if you want to mix an orange drink with water. Check the fruit content, sweeteners and preparation directions rather than assuming it is equivalent to pure juice.
Households planning a weekly shop
Think about how much your household will use after opening. The bottle size matters alongside its refrigeration and opened-pack instructions, particularly when choosing a larger chilled juice.
What should you check before buying?
Choose the type of drink first. Then compare its serving information, preparation directions and opened-pack storage against how your household will use it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink type | Read the product name, juice percentage and ingredients. A 100% orange juice is different from a high juice, juice drink or squash made with water and other ingredients. | I want orange juice as the drink itself, not an orange-flavoured drink that I need to dilute. |
| Sugar wording | Check the ingredients alongside the nutrition panel. “No added sugar” does not mean a drink contains no sugars; some drinks with that claim contain sweeteners. | If I am avoiding added sweeteners, I need to check more than the claim on the front of the pack. |
| Servings | Compare the stated serving size with how you will pour the drink. The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. | A larger juice carton may provide more servings than my household expects to use during the week. |
| Preparation and storage | For a concentrate, follow its dilution directions and compare nutrition figures on the same prepared-drink basis. For any pack, read the instructions for storage after opening. | Will I make up each glass as directed, and can we use the opened pack within its stated period? |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “no added sugar” as “100% juice” or “sugar-free”
Tesco Groceries describes its no-added-sugar High Juice Orange as a concentrated orange juice drink with sweeteners. Pure orange juice, meanwhile, still contains sugars from the fruit.
Check the product name, juice percentage and ingredients to establish which type of drink you are buying.
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Choosing a large chilled bottle without planning when to use it
A weekly shop does not necessarily mean an opened bottle will last all week. Opened-pack storage instructions can make a smaller format more practical for a household that drinks juice less often.
Estimate the servings you expect to pour and follow the storage and use-by-opening instructions on the exact pack.
Juice left unused beyond the pack’s opened-storage period may go to waste.
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Comparing a concentrate with juice before preparing it
A squash is intended to be mixed with water. ASDA Groceries directs shoppers to dilute its high juice using one part squash to four parts water, so an undiluted measure is not the same as a ready-to-drink serving.
Follow the directions on each concentrate and compare nutrition information for drinks as they will be served.
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Overlooking other ingredients on a no-added-sugar drink
No added sugar does not rule out sweeteners or other ingredients. For example, Marks & Spencer lists sucralose in its Mediterranean Orange High Juice.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current pack if anyone in the household needs to avoid a particular ingredient.
Brand and product-line references
These examples show why the drink’s full name and ingredients matter: a brand may offer pure juice and a separate orange drink.
Tropicana
Tropicana UK describes its Smooth Orange Value Pack as a 1.5L carton of 100% pure pressed juice, not from concentrate.
- Its product description identifies a pure-juice option for shoppers who do not want a drink made for dilution.
- No added sugar should not be read as sugar-free; check the nutrition information and whether the carton size suits your household.
innocent
Tesco Groceries describes innocent Smooth Orange Juice 1.35L as 100% pure fruit juice with nothing else and says sugar has never been added.
- The description distinguishes this juice from an orange drink containing sweeteners.
- Check the chilled-storage and opened-pack instructions before choosing a 1.35L bottle for a weekly shop.
Tesco
Tesco No Added Sugar High Juice Orange 1L is described by Tesco Groceries as a concentrated orange juice drink with sweeteners.
- It is an option to consider when you specifically want an orange drink to dilute.
- Its no-added-sugar wording does not make it interchangeable with 100% orange juice.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's describes its Pure Orange Juice 1L as 100% fruit juice from concentrate. Its Stamford Street Co. Orange Juice Drink is separately described as a no-added-sugar drink with sweetener.
- The two descriptions let shoppers distinguish pure juice from a juice drink within the range.
- Do not use the no-added-sugar claim on the juice drink as a substitute for checking its ingredients.
Asda
ASDA Groceries describes Smooth Orange Juice 1Litre as 100% pure squeezed, with orange juice as its ingredient. Its 50% Fruit No Added Sugar High Juice Orange is a separate drink for dilution.
- The pure-juice and high-juice descriptions identify two different ways to buy an orange drink.
- The high juice has preparation directions; check the exact pack before comparing a prepared glass with ready-to-drink juice.
M&S
Marks & Spencer describes Pure Squeezed Orange Juice Smooth as squeezed orange juice with nothing else added. Its Mediterranean Orange High Juice is a different product made with 50% fruit juice.
- The pure-juice description helps identify the option for shoppers seeking juice rather than high juice.
- Marks & Spencer lists sucralose in the high juice, so check its ingredients if you wish to avoid sweeteners.
Orange drink option on Joybuy
This orange squash is an option for households choosing a no-added-sugar drink to dilute, rather than 100% orange juice.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This 1L squash is for making up an orange drink with water; it is not 100% orange juice. Its product information lists 10% orange fruit from concentrate, sweeteners and sulphites. Dilute it before drinking and follow the pack directions for preparation and storage. The product information states that it is not suitable for children under 36 months.
Frequently asked questions
Does “no added sugar” mean an orange drink is sugar-free?
No. Orange juice can contain naturally occurring sugars even when no sugar has been added. Read the nutrition panel as well as the ingredients if the amount of sugars matters to your choice.
Is no-added-sugar high juice the same as 100% orange juice?
No. A high juice is a different type of drink: ASDA Groceries identifies its no-added-sugar orange high juice as 50% fruit and directs shoppers to dilute it with water. Check the product name and ingredients if you want 100% juice.
What serving size should I consider for orange juice?
The NHS advises limiting fruit juice and smoothies to a combined 150ml a day. Compare that amount with the serving information on the carton when planning how quickly your household might use it.
How should I plan storage for a weekly shop?
Read the exact pack’s instructions for refrigeration and use after opening before choosing a bottle size. A large chilled juice may not suit a household that will only pour a few servings once it has been opened.
Should I check for sweeteners and sulphites in orange drinks?
Yes, if those ingredients affect your household’s choice. No-added-sugar orange drinks can contain sweeteners, and the Robinsons squash shown here lists both sweeteners and sulphites. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.