Why do some products that are “made with real fruits and vegetables” seem to contain none of the nutrients of the fruit or vegetable according to their nutrition labels?
> Is it because of the processing? Is "real fruit" one of those FDA phrases that doesn't really mean anything? Is a term like that even regulated by the FDA?
The Short Answer
> Is it because of the processing? Is "real fruit" one of those FDA phrases that doesn't really mean anything? Is a term like that even regulated by the FDA? Both, really. Processing takes some of the nutrients out of some foods. Your yogurt, for instance has blueberry jelly and syrup in it – which was made from blueberries but was processed in such a way (sugar + heat) that it destroyed a lot of the nutrients. So when they say "made with real fruits and vegetables" they really just mean, "tastes of real fruits and vegetables because we extracted the flavors from them." So it's a combination of both the processing and loose regulations for marketing phrases.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Processing, real, phrases
This explanation focuses on processing, real, phrases and spans 117 words across 7 sentences. At 80% above the average Everyday Life explanation (65 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “> Is it because of the processing?” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 7 connected points.
How This Compares in Everyday Life
Ranked #65 of 500 Everyday Life questions by answer depth (top 14%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why some products that are "made with real fruits and vegetables" seem to contain none of the nutrients of the fruit or vegetable according to their nutrition labels?
> Is it because of the processing? Is "real fruit" one of those FDA phrases that doesn't really mean anything? Is a term like that even regulated by the FDA? Both, really. Processing takes some of the nutrients out of some foods. Your yogurt, for…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Everyday Life questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 117 words, ranked #65 of 500 Everyday Life questions by depth. The key concepts covered are processing, real, phrases.
What approach does this answer take to explain some products that are "made with real fruits and vegetables?
The explanation uses root cause analysis and concrete examples and contrasting perspectives across 117 words. It is categorized under Everyday Life and addresses the question through 3 analytical lenses.