Made with Real Fruit
Definition
A front-of-package marketing claim permitted by the FDA as long as a food product contains any trace quantity of fruit puree concentrate, stripped juice concentrate, or dehydrated fruit powder — even if the food is primarily corn syrup, palm oil, and synthetic dye.
Why It Matters
Fruit snacks, breakfast pastries, popsicles, and yogurts frequently display vibrant photos of fresh berries alongside the bold claim 'Made with Real Fruit!'. In reality, manufacturers typically add a fractional drop of clarified apple or white grape juice concentrate. The clarification and vacuum-evaporation process strips away all dietary fiber, vitamin C, and beneficial polyphenols, leaving behind pure liquid fructose that spikes blood glucose. The remaining bulk of the snack is refined sugar, modified corn starch, and petroleum dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5).
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Related Terms
High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
AvoidAn industrial sweetener made by enzymatically converting glucose in corn starch to fructose. Typically found as HFCS-55 (55% fructose, used in soft drinks) or HFCS-42 (42% fructose, used in processed foods).
Red 40 (Allura Red AC)
AvoidA petroleum-derived azo dye and the most widely consumed artificial food dye in the United States. It produces a bright red color and is used purely for cosmetic purposes — it adds no flavor, nutrition, or preservative function.
Greenwashing (in Food)
InformationalA deceptive marketing practice where food manufacturers use natural-looking packaging (earth tones, images of farms, leaves), buzzword claims ('wholesome,' 'simple,' 'real'), or misleading certifications to create the perception of health and sustainability — without the product actually being significantly healthier or more sustainable than conventional alternatives.