Roundy's Cranberry Juice Cocktail From Concentrate — TREAT

Munch or Dump rates Roundy's Cranberry Juice Cocktail From Concentrate by Roudy's TREAT — score 45/90.

A short list, but it's basically watered-down cranberry concentrate with added sugar. The 'cocktail' label is the giveaway: it's a sugar-sweetened drink, not pure juice.

Why this verdict

• Cane or beet sugar is added straight in, on top of fruit sugars from the concentrate
• It's 'cocktail,' not 100% juice: filtered water plus concentrate, so it's diluted and sweetened
• Liquid sugar with little fiber spikes blood sugar fast
• The added vitamin C is a fortification trick, not a sign the drink itself is nutritious

Ingredients (4)

• Filtered Water (safe) — Base liquid, inert.
• Cranberry juice from concentrate (moderate) — Reconstituted cranberry concentrate carries some polyphenols but most fiber is stripped, leaving concentrated fruit sugar.
• Cane or Beet Sugar (concerning) — Pure added sugar on top of the fruit's own sugars; this is what turns tart cranberry into a sweet drink and drives the blood-sugar spike.
• Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (safe) — Vitamin C, here as a natural antioxidant to preserve color. Completely benign.