When it comes to juice, sometimes you have to take a stand. Two Juicy Juice labels promoted claims I wanted to hear the reasoning behind, so I contacted Nestlé USA…
Dear Juicy Juicers:
Juicy Juice is a catchy name. It’s juicy. It’s juice. It’s appealing and alliterate. However, there are some things I don’t understand about your product…
One of your Juicy Juice labels says it contains: DHA — a building block for brain development. If Juicy Juice can really help develop my brain, I’d even be willing to shampoo with it. Can DHA penetrate the skull directly or does it need to be ingested first? What is DHA, anyway, and exactly how does it affect the brain? Does the brain actually absorb Juicy Juice? Can the cool juice colors be seen flowing through the cerebrum on a CAT Scan or MRI?
Another Juicy Juice label says it: Helps Support Immunity. I strongly believe the U.S. Government, Department of Immigration and Law Enforcement Agencies should handle all issues involving immunity. But I’m curious, how is Juicy Juice helping? I’m also confused as to why you would go public on your products with such a controversial issue. Immunity is often hotly debated along with subjects such as Youth In Asia, which is something I don’t understand at all, because what makes young people there so different than youth in any other country? For the record, please sum up your position on immunity.
Very juicy yours,
“Me”
A Consumer Response Representative replied with:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us at Nestlé® Juicy Juice® regarding your inquiries about our Brain Development and Immunity juices. We welcome questions and comments from loyal consumers such as yourself and appreciate this opportunity to assist you.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is a type of Omega-3 fatty acid. It is found naturally in most tissues of the body and accounts for up to 20 percent of total brain mass. DHA is a building block for the brain in infants; according to research, DHA may help support early-age brain and eye development. DHA is naturally found in breast milk, and experts often recommend infant formula fortified with DHA for children who are not breastfeeding. While DHA is naturally found in breast milk, once infants move on to eating more solid foods, primary food sources of DHA include oily fish (like herring, salmon, sardines, rainbow trout, canned tuna), and organ meats. More food products are now being fortified with DHA so that children and adults can benefit from this important nutrient.
Our Immunity juices contain Vitamin C and Zinc which are essential for a healthy immune system, and Prebiotic Fiber to help maintain a healthy digestive system.
At Nestlé, we are dedicated to you and your family throughout every phase of your lives. Your feedback is valuable to us, as it helps us to improve our products and services.
All of us at Nestlé are committed to providing quality foods and beverages that enhance every life experience. Nestlé USA offers a wide variety of nutritious, delicious and convenient food and beverage selections that make good living possible. That’s what “Nestlé Good Food, Good Life” is all about.
We appreciate your interest in our products. Should you have additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at (phone number and hours of operation followed).
Final Thoughts: As usual, there are two sides to every story: Mine and everyone elses. Nestlé did a tremendous job defending their claims. Their explanation of DHA as a building block for the brain in infants was informative and eye-opening. Although it concerns me since juices weren’t fortified with DHA when I was born and my mom only shared her breasts with my dad. It was also surprising to learn how good Docosahexaenoic Acid is for the brain, because in college, the only kind of three letter acid kids were taking juiced the brain in a very different way.
Nestlé’s position on immunity was short and to the point. However, I’ll grant that their stance was strong and their references to healthy immune and digestive systems proves, if anything, that they’re approaching this important subject systematically.
Nestlé should be applauded for providing all this juicy information. Here’s where you can learn more about Juicy Juice. But if you’re not sure where a brand stands on various issues, see what you can squeeze out of them and Write The Company.
