Why do fruit shoots get such a slagging off on MN?

[Gateau]

Not intended to provoke a debate (tho it might!)but they get slagged off quite often on MN, and I'm intrigued to know why.

We are off out today and my Mum (bless her) has just asked me to "stop off and get a pack of Fruit Shoots for the children to drink".

Having read this thread I probably won't.

They do Fruit Shoots that are just juice don't they?

But for some reason they don't have that handy sports top on.

They're minging, but then I think all those squash-type drinks are horrid. I don't mind my son having them now and then, though. He has them at friends' houses. Fair enough. Can't be obssessive about these things.

dd had a happy meal from mcdonalds (i no i am on dodgy ground here) and she was given one of these when i interrogated the woman on the drive through that we wanted 'real juice' juice! It was ok, and i wish that this were as easily available as fruit shoots

I now buy rocks squash, is pricey, but i drink it as it is so nice, dd likes juice etc but only dronks water if she is thirsty just has other thinks for taste!

Littleducks, those are just right aren't they. Subway do them in their kids' meals.

What upsets me is the way that Fruit Shoots are marketed as the healthy (i.e. sugar free) option when (as SuburbanDryad) says they are actually full of cancer linked, behaviour changing chemicals such as the artificial sweetener - Aspartame. I know everyone can't afford to buy expensive alternatives but the likes of Tropicana, Just Juice, Rocks or High Juice are good alternatives. My boys like Elderflower Cordial from M&S so I put that in their flasks when we go out.