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Orange" you glad you checked the expiration date?
Study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association says for the most vitamin C, drink your orange juice soon after purchase.
The vitamin C content of ready-to-drink brands of orange juice can drop from 45 milligrams per cup to zero within four weeks after opening, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The study also found frozen reconstituted orange juice contains more vitamin C than ready-to-drink juice, although the exact amounts depend on when the juice is consumed following purchase.
The researchers analyzed two brands of frozen juice and two brands of ready-to-drink juice and found orange juice from concentrate contains 86 milligrams of vitamin C per fluid cup when first prepared, dropping to 39 to 46 milligrams after four weeks of storage. Ready-to-drink juices, on the other hand, start with "significantly lower" amounts of vitamin C than frozen, according to the study -- 27 to 65 milligrams per cup when the container is opened, and zero to 25 milligrams four weeks later.
What's happening?
Oxygen in the air is responsible for most vitamin C loss in packaged orange juice, meaning routine handling during the production process as well as storage in non-airtight containers after opening can reduce the amounts of vitamin C both before and after purchase. According to the study, the vitamin C content of orange juice is "highly variable and dependent on, for example, the variety and maturity of the oranges, fresh fruit handling, processing factors and packaging. Pasteurized, ready to serve orange juice typically contains 25 percent less vitamin C per serving than frozen concentrates, a result in part of heat destroying the vitamin C."
How does this affect us?
"While the average person needs only about six milligrams per day of vitamin C to avoid health problems like scurvy, low intake of vitamin C can lead to fatigue, feelings of listlessness and may lead to more serious complications," the researchers said. However, meeting the RDA for Vitamin C is relatively easy as Vitamin C is found in such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Bottom line: The researchers recommend that individuals who drink orange juice purchase the juice three to four weeks prior to the expiration date and consume it within one week of opening.
Study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association says for the most vitamin C, drink your orange juice soon after purchase.
The vitamin C content of ready-to-drink brands of orange juice can drop from 45 milligrams per cup to zero within four weeks after opening, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The study also found frozen reconstituted orange juice contains more vitamin C than ready-to-drink juice, although the exact amounts depend on when the juice is consumed following purchase.
The researchers analyzed two brands of frozen juice and two brands of ready-to-drink juice and found orange juice from concentrate contains 86 milligrams of vitamin C per fluid cup when first prepared, dropping to 39 to 46 milligrams after four weeks of storage. Ready-to-drink juices, on the other hand, start with "significantly lower" amounts of vitamin C than frozen, according to the study -- 27 to 65 milligrams per cup when the container is opened, and zero to 25 milligrams four weeks later.
What's happening?
Oxygen in the air is responsible for most vitamin C loss in packaged orange juice, meaning routine handling during the production process as well as storage in non-airtight containers after opening can reduce the amounts of vitamin C both before and after purchase. According to the study, the vitamin C content of orange juice is "highly variable and dependent on, for example, the variety and maturity of the oranges, fresh fruit handling, processing factors and packaging. Pasteurized, ready to serve orange juice typically contains 25 percent less vitamin C per serving than frozen concentrates, a result in part of heat destroying the vitamin C."
How does this affect us?
"While the average person needs only about six milligrams per day of vitamin C to avoid health problems like scurvy, low intake of vitamin C can lead to fatigue, feelings of listlessness and may lead to more serious complications," the researchers said. However, meeting the RDA for Vitamin C is relatively easy as Vitamin C is found in such a wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Bottom line: The researchers recommend that individuals who drink orange juice purchase the juice three to four weeks prior to the expiration date and consume it within one week of opening.