It is sometimes called a ‘direct’ juice, meaning that it is not reconstituted from concentrates, but made from fresh ingredients. The abbreviation ‘NFC’ stands for ‘not from concentrate’. However, these juices may be enriched with natural flavours, purees or pulp (from fruit or vegetables), as well as vitamins and minerals.
NFC juices contain almost as much sugar as the ingredients themselves, so they have a similar energy value and fibre content as a serving of fresh, unprocessed produce.
How is NFC juice different from regular juices?
The difference lies mostly in how they are obtained. For NFC juices, the process is quite simple: fruit and/or vegetables are thoroughly washed, graded and then squeezed, pureed or pressed. As the next step, the product is pasteurised and put in bottles or cartons. Owing to the pasteurisation process, the juice can be stored without losing vitamins and nutritional value. NFC juice is often pasteurised using the HHP (high hydrostatic pressure) method, which offers effective protection against spoilage without affecting the quality of the juice.
Other juices are first pressed and then evaporated. The resulting concentrate is mixed with water and subsequently heated or otherwise treated. It is filtered and concentrated, and FC (from concentrate) juice must be additionally clarified (have pulp removed), often with the use of gelatine, so the final product is not suitable for vegans. The clarification process adds more calories (the juice contains more sugars and less fibre).
Do the juices available on the market contain added sugar? Despite the common notion, not as much as one might think. An EU directive was adopted in 2012 that made it illegal to add sugars to fruit juices, which can only be sweetened with sugars naturally present in fruit.
So how can a carton of orange juice have glucose-fructose syrup listed as an ingredient? The reason is simple: it’s not a juice, it’s a fruit beverage! Pay attention to the names. And ingredients, too – this is the basic rule of grocery shopping.
Are NFC juices better for my health than other juices?
Yes, because they are not clarified, so they retain the valuable fibre and more vitamins owing to a simple and quick production process. NFC juices, just like their ingredients, are rich in vitamins, fibre, pectins, micro- and macronutrients and polyphenols. You can enjoy them as one of the recommended daily servings of vegetables and fruit. They are a perfect solution if you don’t have any healthy alternatives available. You can take the NFC juice to work, to university, or on a trip.
The available juices may have very short as well as longer shelf lives. Usually they need to be refrigerated and consumed right after opening.