Don't Give Fruit Juice To Children Under 1, Pediatricians Advise

Children less than the age of one should not be given fruit juice unless it is suggested by a doctor, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a new policy statement Monday.

Previously, the academy had recommended not giving fruit juice to children 6 months or younger. In the new statement, the academy says fruit juice offers no nutritional benefits over whole fruits for infants and children and has no essential role in healthy, balanced diets of children. The new recommendation is also the first change in recommendations on fruit juice since 2001.

“Parents may perceive fruit juice as healthy, but it is not a good substitute for fresh fruit and just packs in more sugar and calories,” said Dr. Melvin B. Heyman, co-author of the statement. “Small amounts in moderation are fine for older kids, but are absolutely unnecessary for children under 1.”

As the statement notes, the Food and Drug Administration mandates that to be labeled as fruit juice, the product must be 100 percent fruit juice. For any beverage that is less than 100 percent fruit juice, the product must list what percentage of the product is fruit juice, and the beverage must include a descriptive term, such as "drink."

The new recommendations state 100 percent fresh or reconstituted fruit juice can be a healthy part of a child's diet who is over the age of 1, when it's consumed as part of a well-balanced diet. But consumption should be limited depending on the child's age.

The new policy statement notes that excessive juice consumption is associated with diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal distention and tooth decay.

The new recommendations included in the policy are:

• Intake of juice should be limited to, at most, 4 ounces daily for toddlers age 1-3. For children age 4-6, fruit juice should be restricted to 4 to 6 ounces daily; and for children ages 7-18, juice intake should be limited to 8 ounces or 1 cup of the recommended 2 to 2-1/2 cups of fruit servings per day.
• Toddlers should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable “sippy cups” that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day. The excessive exposure of the teeth to carbohydrates can lead to tooth decay, as well. Toddlers should not be given juice at bedtime.
• Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and be educated about the benefits of the fruit as compared with juice, which lacks dietary fiber and may contribute to excessive weight gain.
• Human milk or infant formula is sufficient for infants, and low-fat/nonfat milk and water are sufficient for older children.
• Consumption of unpasteurized juice products should be strongly discouraged for children of all ages.
• Children who take specific forms of medication should not be given grapefruit juice, which can interfere with the medication’s effectiveness. In addition, fruit juice is not appropriate in the treatment of dehydration or management of diarrhea.

Image via Pixabay