Why are European juice-based drinks 12% juice?!
Why are European juice-based drinks 12% juice?
Many European juice-based drinks, especially sodas, have a magic number 12% as their juice content. For example, Orangina, the orange drink of champions (and of cheese-eating French). Also, at Trader Joe's, the private-label stuff they import is frequently 12% juice. (e.g. "Villa Italia Italian Blood Red Orange Soda", or their grapefruit soda with a similarly silly name.)
In contrast, many American juice-based drinks are 10% juice. I've seen less (Sunny Delight), I've seen more (Goya nectars go into the mid-40s, though Goya is practically Mexican). 10% seems the most common.
But why 12% for European drinks, as opposed to 10%? If you're going to fill up the rest of the bottle with water, sugar, and "natural flavors," then why bother putting in an additional 2% juice?
My speculation is that there is a European Union regulation which requires 12% to be considered a juice-based drink.? (11.9% won't cut it.) Does anyone have additional information?
Answers:
Yes, this is true. The EU mandates that 12% of a drink must be juice to be an ade rather than a drink.
Ade has juice, "drink" has no, or less than 12% juice.
nope... you covered it perfectly.
interesting!