Profeco’s Study on Fruit Juices and Flavored Drinks for Children
The April 2025 edition of the Profeco Consumer Review presented the findings from a quality study on fruit juices and flavored drinks targeted at girls and boys.
The research analyzed 51 products, including fruit juices, fruit-flavored beverages, fruit-flavored soy drinks, and soy & fruit flavored beverages. The study found that several brands contain unrecommended sweeteners for this age group.
Health Concerns with Artificial Sweeteners in Children’s Drinks
Profeco highlighted that many of these products, despite their seemingly healthy appearance and marketing aimed at children, include high amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Since 2021, there has been a regulation prohibiting the use of child-friendly characters, animations, cartoons, celebrities, athletes, or mascots on product labels with warning signs such as “CONTAINS ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS, NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN.”
Unrecommended Drink Categories for Children Due to Sweeteners:
- Fruit-flavored beverages
- Fruit-flavored drinks
- Soy & fruit-flavored drinks
Specific Brands Containing Unrecommended Sweeteners:
- FLORIDA 7
- FRIKO
- FRUTSI DEL VALLE
- PAU PAU JUMEX
- ADES
- CIEL MINI DEL VALLE
- DEL VALLE
- JUMEX
- VIGOR MINI
The document explains that using non-caloric sweeteners in children may have negative metabolic effects, such as decreased insulin sensitivity, increased blood glucose levels, and potential sugar habituation.
Profeco’s Recommendations for Parents and Guardians
Read labels carefully: Check for warning signs and ingredient lists.
Recognize front-of-package labeling: Identify octagonal symbols indicating excess sugars, calories, fats, and sodium, as well as the warning about artificial sweeteners.
Consider portion size: Energy contribution is related to the amount consumed.
Prioritize water: For healthy hydration without risks.
The Consumer Review analysis aims to provide useful and accurate information to encourage responsible consumption from childhood. Remember that brands are used for illustrative and comparative purposes only. For more details and the full study, consult the April 2025 edition.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main concern of Profeco’s study? The study warns about unrecommended sweeteners in children’s fruit juices and flavored drinks.
- Which brands contain unrecommended sweeteners? FLORIDA 7, FRIKO, FRUTSI DEL VALLE, PAU PAU JUMEX, ADES, CIEL MINI DEL VALLE, DEL VALLE, JUMEX, and VIGOR MINI were found to contain these sweeteners.
- What are the potential negative effects of artificial sweeteners in children? Possible metabolic issues include decreased insulin sensitivity, increased blood glucose levels, and sugar habituation.
- What recommendations does Profeco provide for parents and guardians? Read labels carefully, recognize front-of-package labeling, consider portion sizes, and prioritize water for healthy hydration.
