does "from concentrate" mean "diluted"??

aurongrande_2

On a regular basis, I see drinks cropping up with the label "from concentrate". Typically you see it on fruit juice cartons, but I've also seen it on a few other types of packaging.

My gripe here is Tesco fruit juice. I haven't compared other brands in this regard.

For a while, I kept buying Tesco juice cartons which are labelled "from concentrate". However, they suddenly changed. On the package, it says that that the exact amount of water that was removed is put back in, but the juices started tasting like they've been diluted. As if 150-200% of the water that was removed is put in.

In other words, it's like getting an orange, squeezing out the juice, and then adding water. This is pretty obvious, because the Tesco "not from concentrate" juice is thicker, creamier, as if you just squeezed the fruit yourself.

So I will repeat my question - Does "from concentrate" mean "diluted"?

pulliptears

From Yahoo:

Juice from concentrate is juice made out of juice that had all the water taken out of it. The frozen juice you buy in cans and have to add water to is "concentrate". They do this because they can freeze it and put it into little cans. The longer it lasts, the more profit the juice companies can make. Also, the "Juice From Concentrate" that is sold ready to drink, is also cheaper to make (it all boils down to making money).

Its not that its bad for you, its just that fresh juice is better for you

It just means concentrated by removing water (thus making it smaller & cheaper to transport) and then returned to its original consistency by adding water again.

Alter_ego

It's also cheaper to ship concentrate from the producing country, add water in the consumer country. Greener too!

nearlyrich

If you want proper juice you have to pay extra to be honest I usually buy whatever is on offer to make the difference a little less...

MarzipanFish

Like others said it means water's been removed, usually to make it easier to transport, and then readded at a later date.

AFAIK 'from concentrate' doesn't actually specify how much water is added so it doesn't mean 'diluted' but equally doesn't mean 'the same strength as the original juice'.

Assume there must be some rules on diluting though, something about 'orange juice' vs 'orange juice drink' maybe!

pulliptears

Why did the blonde stare at the orange juice? Because it said "Concentrate"

tanith

I have always bought 'Not from Concentrate' , as I was under the impression the 'From concentrate' was diluted and the processing also gives them a chance to add stuff . Not from concentrate is the nearest you can get to fresh orange but I suppose thats no guarantee that things aren't added to it..but it tastes nicer and thats good enough reason for me

DCFC79

I buy the not from concentrate stuff, its the more expensive of the 2 so its better quality

moonrakerz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_juice

juno

MarzipanFish wrote: »

Like others said it means water's been removed, usually to make it easier to transport, and then readded at a later date.

AFAIK 'from concentrate' doesn't actually specify how much water is added so it doesn't mean 'diluted' but equally doesn't mean 'the same strength as the original juice'.

Assume there must be some rules on diluting though, something about 'orange juice' vs 'orange juice drink' maybe!

Asda do an orange "juice drink" which is diluted but actually works out more expensive than buying the normal kind and diluting it yourself.

stephen77

there are differet kids of not from concentrate as well.
Different levels of heating, eg pasturised to non pasturised.

As above mentions there will be laws regarding diluting. I am guessing they have to re-constitute to pre-determined standards. eg weight 100kg of oranges juice will be dehydrated down to eg 50kg. then when hydrating again brought back up to 100kg.

If they could add any amount of water you would not get fruit juices with labels like orange juice 40%, water, sugar, ascorbic acid etc.

If you want fresh as possible go for the smoothis maker straight after scrumping!