Why the fruit shoot hate?

[79redballoons]

Kinda a TAAT but not really... I was just reading the child friendly cafe menu thread and it made me wonder, why all the hate on fruit shoots?

I had assumed they were similar to squash, a fairly inoffensive treat drink for a child when out for a meal.

Am I mistaken? Are they kid crack or something?

Full disclosure - I occasionally get mine a fruit shoot if we're out somewhere for lunch. Other 'occasion/treat' drinks making an appearance on a day out are juice and chocolate milk. Judge away 🙂

Because mumsnet is ridiculous

Back in the day on MN when everyone was shitting the bed over "fruit shoots and sausage rolls", it was generally argued that they were especially pernicious because they were marketed as a healthy fruit-based alternative to overtly evil drinks like Coke and lemonade. You're right though, they are basically squash.

No idea. They're just sugar free squash. Arguably less bad than fresh fruit juice, depending on your stance on sweeteners. People love to judge!

It’s the sweeteners in them which people find problematic. Do they have colouring in there too? I’m not sure.

Well my kids drink 80% squash, which includes fruit shoots at times, so I guess I'm a terrible mother 🙄

Fruit Shoots were considered devil's sperm here on Mumsnet 18 or so years ago 😬

Expensive for what they are and think of the packaging waste.

Goodness only knows. Though personally I gave them pure juice as I avoided sweeteners when they were tiny (was easy to find real sugar squash then) as mine were always underweight I opted for butter, olive oil, full fat, real sugar etc.

That cafe menu thread was an eye opener! Parents today seem very different to 20 years ago! I was happy just to get food into dd1 for though we didn't eat out much so why would you worry about the menu for an occasional treat? Im guessing these mums eat out far more

People like to judge what others give their children to eat and drink. I think it makes them feel better about themselves.
I give my daughter some juice in the house but if we're out i would get her a fruit shoot. I always tend to forget her sippy cup or I don't bring enough.

They used to get a bad rap on MN because they were full of sugar. They didn't taste like squash, they tasted extremely strong and overconcentrated and chemically like those kwenchy kup drinks yet were marketed as healthy.

That was when my teenager was a toddler. They changed the recipe in response to the backlash (and the sugar tax) and they aren't as strong any more.

First its pom bears. Then a fruit shoot. Then heroin.

Will nobody think of the children?

We used to buy them for parties in the days of peak MN hate for them when the DCs were small, we didn't worry so much about packaging waste back then and we could at least recycle them. Far less likely to make a mess than open cups on a big party tea table.

Sugary sticky nectar.

If I'm having squash, I don't want it highly concentrated and warm.

Plastic waste.

My dcs love them. I buy an 8 pk of stores own version each week. Kept in car for if out and about and ran out of squash. 2 of My dcs would rather dehydrate and have been hospitalised as refuse water. So they pretty much only have squash etc.. Which the hospital even said is fine as better than being admitted to hospital.

1 only drinks water.
Other anything.

My DS’ regularly drunk fruit shoots as toddlers, they are in their 20’s now, perfect teeth, fit and well.

I don't think people "hate on" Fruit Shoots. They're just not very healthy and some parents prefer healthier drinks.

They used to taste like undiluted cordial, do they still?

Have you ever tried one?
I did as I wasn't sure about them for my children, it is much more concentrated than squash.
I just politely decline when my children ask.

Meh, I was that kid who was only allowed water growing up, my mum was so strict on it, squash was only for an special treat at parties etc.

Then throughout my 20s I had a massive addiction to Pepsi Max Cherry. Got through tons of it every week 🙈 I’m a bit better now but do go through phases every now and then. Despite all those years of just water I pretty much undid it all and I’m not in healthier habits as an adult.

Makes me realise not to sweat the small stuff. A bit of squash isn’t going to hurt anyone.

Plastic bottles. Full of artificial crap. Mine are only allowed water and milk. I don't drink rubbish either so I'm consistent.

They may have changed the recipe but if they haven’t they’re really horrible. Really strong. Like undiluted squash. I was shocked when I had a swig of one of the kids bottles once. I have no problem with them drinking juice occasionally but fruit shoots are (were?) really bad.

It’s ultra processed because of the sweeteners. That means bad for gut health. I’m not sure why food and drinks should be seen as ‘treats’ either. But I’m not bothered what other people do or what they give to their kids. People can make their own decisions.

I don’t know what is wrong with water?
Mine had nothing but water until they were 14 or so then they hit the irn bru. I knew I had done my best.
Why fill them full of shit when they are so small and their bodies can’t process it. It. Is. Literally. Very. Very. Bad. For. Them. Never underestimate how bad it is. But your kids your problem I guess. Ho hum. But you shouldn’t mock people who are essentially doing a better job than you. We are just laughing right back.

Was the devil juice, when mine were little, both adults now.