Ocean Spray Light Cranberry Juice Drink 50% Juice, Cranberry, 64 fl oz (1.89 lt) (Ocean Spray)
Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) 0 31200 34227 0
Ocean Spray Cranberries , Inc
Lakeville-Middleboro
Massachusetts, 02349
800-662-3263
http://www.oceanspray.com/Products/Juices/Diet-Light.aspx



DISCUSSION
'Ocean Spray' is a Grower Cooperative that oversees and controls production and distribution of Cranberries in a pert of New England. Other production areas exist in many northern states.
The primary product under consideration herein is a Beverage. It usually reaches the consumer in a distinctive sealed one gallon (64 fluid ounces / 1.89 Liters) clear plastic rectangular container.
Inside one will find a wide variety of flavors or styles, based upon cranberry juice. In the OCEAN SPRAY WEBSITE, there are three major categories of this beverage, some of which may be found on the shelf at various retail outlets:
Diet – Contains 7% Juice, in Eight (8) different recipes blends of Cranberry Juices
Light – Contains 50% Juice, in Five (5) recipes
“100%” - Contains 100% Juice, in Thirteen (13) recipes



NUTRITION Facts
Serving Sizes all 8 ounces, 8 servings per Container, all are Non-Fat,
all based on 2,000 Calorie Diet; % Daily Values (or RDA) listed
Calories per serving: Diet 5; Light 50;”100%”120
Sodium Diet - 50mg, 2% RDA, Light – 40mg, 2% RDA - “100%” 35mg 1%
Potassium Diet – 0, 0%, Light – 90mg, 3% RDA, - “100%” 50mg 2% RDA
Carbohydrates Diet – 2g 1%, Light – 11g 4% RDA, - “100%” 30g, 10% RDA
Sugars Diet – 2g, Light – 11g, “100%” - 30g
Protein – (None across the board)
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Vitamin C Amount ? Diet – 100% RDA, Light – None, “100%” 100% RDA
INGREDIENTS
DIET
Water, Cranberry Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Pectin, Fumaric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose (Splenda), Red 40.
LIGHT
Water, Cranberry Juice Concentrate, Apple & Grape Concentrates, Natural Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Pectin, Acesulflame Potassium, Sucralose (Splenda?)



100%Juice
Cranbery Juice Concentrate, Grape Juce Concentrate, Apple Juice Concentrate, Pear Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Pectin , Ascorbic Acid.
COMMENTS
Please see “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005” published by USDA, Chapter 8.
What, I ask, is Sodium doing in a fruit drink? For that matter, why is Potassium there sometimes? Blood pressure and Salt intake are directly related. Higher levels can contribute to some not-so-nice ailments. About 75% of Sodium in the food supply was put there by manufacturers. Food labels are convenient, look for low sodium foods, those with less than 5% of the 2,300 mg (1 tsp) daily value.



On the other hand, Potassium works for us. The RDA is about 4,700 mg/day – try lots of fruit and vegetables.



What, is one to suppose, noting the variations in the Ocean Spray products, ithe value of adding Sodium to innocent berries? Pretty simple, that quandary. Salt makes things taste GOOD.
Q.E.D.
~~~~~~~
THE OPPOSITION
Some people believe what they hear or read; therefore what they see or hear must be true. The audience so inclined has a vigorous marketing group's attention. I am saddened to see that certain publications attribute many benefits to the ingestion of cranberries.
In http://cranberryjuice.com/about.html we are informed that the juice is effective against cancer, cardiovascular, immune system disorders, e.coli, and kidney stones. In fairness, these claims are hedged by the possibilities that the juice doesn't do those things. At least not all of them.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Through a complicated process, I came into possession of a flask of the above mentioned “100”Juice. Hmm, this could sub for my favorite refreshment, Root Beer. Gratefully, I ingested about 8 ounces (or wanted to). As in tasting wine, there was a reason for a reaction I call:

SIPPATOOIE !!!
That stuff was sweet enough to bend my teeth, then powered its way down to do more mischief.
Yes folks, I did try the others, not everyone likes artificial sweetners, not me – I like Splenda. Or what it keeps me from – Sucrose. So the Diet variety is OK. But, Splenda is actually used in Light as well. We just don't get told that.
Well, Phooey to it all, dern it! I don't particularly like cranberry juice. 

Recommended: Yes