Tag: Fruit processing

According to the Florida Department of Citrus, 100% orange juice contains no added sugar, and the sweetness is from naturally occurring sugars. The question of whether sugar is added to fresh oranges is a common misconception, often born from the varying sweetness levels found in different orange varieties. This article clarifies that fresh, whole oranges do not contain added sugar, as their sweetness develops naturally on the tree.

According to the USDA, one cup of canned applesauce counts as one cup of fruit toward your daily intake. But is a serving of applesauce truly equivalent to eating a whole, raw apple when it comes to reaping the classic “apple a day” health benefits? This common question has a surprisingly nuanced answer that depends on factors like fiber, digestion, and added ingredients.

An average 8-ounce glass of pure apple juice contains about 24-26 grams of sugar, a concentration comparable to a can of soda. This surprisingly high sugar content often makes us wonder: how is apple juice so sweet, and what exactly creates its powerful flavor profile?

Over decades, consumer demand has driven a significant increase in the availability of seedless fruits. The benefits of fruit without seeds go far beyond simple convenience, impacting everything from food processing to nutritional content and commercial agriculture.

According to the Vegan Society, a vegan diet is one that abstains from all animal products. While fruits are generally plant-based and safe for vegans, certain production methods, additives, and even natural phenomena can complicate whether some fruit is vegan friendly. This guide will explore the nuances of consuming fruit while adhering to a vegan lifestyle.

Apples naturally produce their own protective layer of wax, known as bloom, which helps retain moisture and inhibit mold growth. However, this natural wax is removed during the cleaning process after harvest, leading producers to re-apply a thin coating of food-grade wax to maintain the fruit's freshness and appearance.

According to scientific research, while pectin is a natural component of whole fruits, the processing methods used to create commercial fruit juice often remove most or all of it. The answer to whether fruit juice contains pectin depends heavily on the type of juice and how it was made, debunking the common assumption that all fruit juice retains the same nutritional properties as its whole fruit source.

In a recent survey, nearly a quarter of U.S. vegans reported accidentally consuming non-vegan foods. It's crucial to understand that while all fruits are inherently vegetarian, certain processing methods can render fruit products non-vegetarian, often without the consumer's knowledge.

According to the International Glycemic Index Database, a ripe banana has a low GI of 51, while a slightly under-ripe one is even lower at 42, showing that ripeness impacts blood sugar response. This leads many to wonder: does freezing fruit lower its glycemic index, especially for fruits with higher sugar content when ripe?

According to a 2022 study on blended apples and blackberries, blended fruit can actually result in a lower blood sugar spike compared to its whole counterpart. This surprising finding challenges the common assumption that pureed fruit has a higher glycemic index.