Incomprehensible use of animal ingredients in apple juice production

Production of apple juice and spritzers often with the help of gelatine
For juices and spritzers, most consumers assume that no animal ingredients are used in their production. But "anyone who buys clear apple juice or apple juice can not be sure that it is a purely herbal product," according to the latest consumer protection organization Foodwatch. Because many juices are clarified according to Foodwatch with animal gelatin.

Apple juices and spritzers are by no means to be understood as purely herbal products, according to Foodwatch's current market review. Often gelatin is used as a means of clarification, reports the consumer protection organization. Consumers who want to do without animal products for religious or ethical reasons will make purchasing more difficult.

Hardly anyone thinks about the use of animal products in the production of apple juice, but gelatine is often used for clarifying. (Image: Es75 / fotolia.com)

Every third juice clarified with gelatin?
For the current research, Foodwatch has reviewed the full range of apple juices and apple spritzer at the top three food retailers in Germany - Edeka, Lidl and Rewe. The research showed that "for every third apple juice or nectar (7 out of 17) and every third apple spritzer (5 out of 14), clarification with animal gelatine can not be ruled out", according to the Communication from the Consumer Protection Organization. Basically, it made no difference whether the juice or the Schorle came from a brand manufacturer or the private label of a trading company.

Consumers disappointed in their expectation
Among the products that have been clarified with gelatin according to Foodwatch include various branded products and private labels of discounters. For example, the clear apple juice from Albi and the spritzers from Adelholzener, Lichtenauer and Rewe's organic spritzer with pork or beef gelatine were clarified. "Even though gelatine is no longer present in the end product, consumers are disappointed in their expectations," concludes Foodwatch. No one assumes in plant-based products such as clear apple juice that animal ingredients, additives or excipients have been used.

Waiver of gelatin quite feasible
According to Foodwatch, various manufacturers show that the clarification of apple juice is also possible without animal gelatine. For example, the juices of Pfanner, Becker's Bester and Valensina would be clarified either mechanically by ultrafiltration or with the aid of herbal "gelatin". The manufacturer Adelholzener is currently running a project to test whether pea protein can be used instead of animal gelatin in the future. In general, gelatin is added in the so-called fining process of the naturally cloudy juice, which is subsequently filtered out again together with the adhering turbidity, explains Foodwatch. In the final product, the gelatin was no longer detectable according to the manufacturer.

Labeling required
In the absence of labeling, consumers can not tell whether the juice was produced using animal gelatine, according to Foodwatch. Therefore, consumer advocates demand "a clear and legible labeling requirement if animal substances were used anywhere in the production process." This also applies to flavors of animal origin, which are used for example in some types of chips, or for dyes derived from animals , According to Foodwatch expert Sophie, as long as it is not necessary to state on the bottles and Tetrapaks whether it has been clarified with animal gelatine, an informed decision to purchase apple juice and apple juice is not possible Unger. (Fp)