Wendyl Wants To Know: Go Native Mixed Berry & Apple Fruit Bites $1.99

Go Native Mixed Berry & Apple Fruit Bites. $1.99.

These bites may contain natural ingredients but there’s far too much sugar in them to be considered healthy

This tempting little bag of fruity bites was displayed next to the strawberries and other fresh fruits in my local supermarket.

On the packet it promises the equivalent of one fruit serving, slow-release energy and delicious fruit bites.

Concentrated apple puree (44%)
This tells us that the biggest ingredient in this product is apple, in this case a puree which means the fruit is cooked and then mashed or strained.

Concentrated apple juice (33%)
This is where I fear the astounding amount of sugar is coming from. This product has 21.5g, or just over five teaspoons, of sugar per tiny 30g bag. That means this product is 71.6 per cent sugar! Food producers will argue that it is fruit sugar, but it's still sugar capable of causing tooth decay, diabetes and obesity. And at this percentage, most people would agree it is too much.

Strawberry puree (9%)
This is mashed-up strawberries.

Blackcurrant puree ( 7.5%)
As above.

Raspberry puree (2.2%)
As above.

Blueberry puree (2.2%)
As above.

Citrus fibre
Fruit fibre taken from citrus fruits. You will get 1.9g of fibre per 30g serve.

Gelling agent (pectin from plants)
Pectin is a natural gelling agent commonly found in some fruits.

Flavours (natural)
Nice to see some natural flavours used here.

Recommendations
Yes, this has fruit in it, but let's do some comparisons. Per 100g of this product you will get 71.6g of sugar. Per 100g of fresh apple you will get 10g sugar and per 100g of strawberries you will get 4.9g sugar. So if you are kidding yourself that this little bag of fruit gel pieces is the same as feeding your child a piece of fruit or berries, you need a reality check.

This packet proudly says that it doesn't contain artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, but neither does fresh fruit.

In my opinion these are lollies with some fibre added in an attempt to slow down the absorption of such a power punch of sugar.

Sure, they originated as pieces of fruit, but after the fruits are concentrated to make this product you are getting much higher sugar levels than you get in fresh fruit.

I'm also amazed that these are being stacked and sold among the fresh fruit in the supermarket.

I've yet to see a child refuse fresh apple pieces, strawberries and other berries offered to them. So why not just do that, and leave these where they belong - in the lolly aisle.

Highlights
• 71.6% sugar.
• Fruit sugar and table sugar are very similar.
• No artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives.

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