Drinking 100 % fruit juice has a negligible impact on daily calories but accounts for up to a quarter of children’s vitamin C intake and is an important source of other vital nutrients, according to a new study1 which highlights the importance of juice in a healthy diet.

Because fruit juice contains natural sugar, some policy makers and researchers have expressed concern that it could lead to weight gain, if consumed regularly. But a new analysis of national dietary surveys across 14 European countries for which data were available, found that people who drink fruit juice consume on average just 137 g per day, lower than the recommended serving size of 150 – 200 ml2 that exists in some countries.