Key findings
- 1"Not from concentrate" juice uses proprietary flavor packs to restore taste lost in processing
- 2A glass of OJ contains the sugar of 3-4 oranges but none of the fiber
- 3Eating a whole orange keeps the fiber that juicing leaves behind in the pulp
- 4In our analysis, orange juices average a Processing Score of 2.6, which is Level 2
Why is Orange Juice Level 2 on average?
The "not from concentrate" process is more complex than consumers realize: juice is squeezed, then stripped of oxygen for storage in million-gallon tanks for up to a year. This de-aeration removes flavor, which manufacturers restore using "flavor packs"; proprietary blends of orange essence and oil. This is why not-from-concentrate juice can taste the same year-round despite seasonal fruit variation. From-concentrate adds an evaporation and reconstitution step. In our analysis, orange juices average a Processing Score of 2.6, which is Level 2.
How 1,589 orange juice products break down
Share of products at each processing level, in our analysis.
Orange Juice brand comparison
From least to most processed in our database.
How to read a orange juice label
- 1
"100% juice" means no added sugars, but processing still varies
- 2
"Not from concentrate" undergoes de-aeration and flavor pack addition
- 3
Fresh-squeezed (refrigerated, short shelf life) is the least processed
- 4
Watch for "juice drink" or "juice cocktail"; these are 10-30% juice with added sugar
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Frequently asked questions
Is Tropicana orange juice ultra-processed?
Not-from-concentrate juices are pasteurized, and many are de-aerated and stored before packing, which makes them more processed than fresh-squeezed juice. Each product page shows its own score.
Is fresh-squeezed juice better than store-bought?
From a processing standpoint, yes. Fresh-squeezed juice is just squeezed fruit. Store-bought "not from concentrate" adds pasteurization and storage steps, and "from concentrate" adds evaporation and reconstitution on top.