Not so « French » and not so « organic » fruit juices!

Verified on 02/06/2023 by Alexane Flament, Editor
Des jus de fruits pas si « français » et pas si « bio » !

A good fresh fruit juice is delicious and refreshing, especially in hot weather! Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and digestive aids, apple juice is a real health ally!

However, when it comes to knowing the origin of apples, manufacturers aren’t always very clear on labelling. This inaccuracy can cost apple juice quality dearly! Here’s how it works!

Keep your eyes peeled for the origin of apples!

A new survey by 60 millions de consommateurs has compared 6  » organic  » apple juices that are easy to find in supermarkets!

If you look at the packaging, 4 apple juices say « packaged in France », « bottled in France » or « jus-de-fruitiers français » !

Some even feature a map of France, or even a tricolor flag! Whatever the case, these brands are desperate to attract their audience with this flamboyant Made in France statement!

And with good reason: in recent years, consumers have tended to place increasing emphasis on product quality and traceability.

In the minds of consumers, French products are synonymous with high quality. In fact, consumers prefer farming practices that respect the environment and the local economy.

A real craze for Made in France, which could encourage some brands to give this label pride of place on their packaging!

What about the French apples in these juices?

Apple juice with a French flag on the label may be hiding its true colours! Even if the packaging seems to prove otherwise, the fruit may well have come from abroad!

Indeed, Joker states that its apples don’t come from France, but from a sunny region… without specifying that they are in fact imported from Poland!

For the other apple juices analyzed, no data on the origin of the apples is available.

The magazine contacted the manufacturers, and while some, like Pressade, refused to answer, brands like Jardin Bio étic certify that their apples come from Europe, including France.

The Marcel Bio brand specifies that it uses only French fruit.

A sad reality behind these labels…

Brands are putting forward arguments in their favor, such as Joker, which suggests that stocks of French apples are insufficient.

For its part, Jardin Bio Étic points to the vagaries of the weather… But for the Agence Bio, it’s more a question of price, transport homogeneity and the varieties of apples used!