Doctors say no fruit juice before age one
Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit to children under age 1 and should not be included in their diet, according to a new policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefit to children under age 1 and should not be included in their diet, according to a new policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This marks the Academy’s first change in recommendations on fruit juice since 2001. Previously, the Academy advised against offering fruit juice to children under the age of 6 months, but has expanded that time frame to include the entire first year of life.
The statement, “Fruit Juice in Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Current Recommendations,” published in Pediatrics accounts for the rising rates of obesity and concerns about dental health based on evidence accumulated over recent years.
“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 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.”
The new recommendations state that 100% fresh or reconstituted fruit juice can be a healthy part of the diet of children older than 1 year when consumed as part of a well-balanced diet. Consumption, however, should be limited depending on a child’s age. The policy statement recommendations include:
- Intake of juice should be limited to, at most, 4 oz daily for toddlers aged 1–3. For children aged 4–6, fruit juice should be restricted to 4–6 oz daily; and for children aged 7–18, juice intake should be limited to 8 oz or 1 cup of the recommended 2–2.5 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.
The Academy supports policies that seek to reduce fruit juice consumption and promote fresh fruit. This support extends to developing policies for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), provided that the policies do not have negative nutritional consequences for children without access to fresh fruit.