You may have loved it as a kid, the tart and sweet flavoring of cranberry cocktail making your taste buds cry with delight. But now that you’ve started scanning the ingredients list, you may be wondering: is cranberry juice even vegan?
Cranberry juice is considered vegan. However, if cranberry juice contains “natural flavor”, if may not be vegan. This is a broad term and can potentially be derived from animals. Brands that don’t specify that they are certified vegan should not be considered vegan. Cranberry juice brands that are certified vegan and safe to consume include Fruit Fast, Country Spoon, and Knudsen.
As we continue through this article, we’ll go over whether cranberry juice should be considered healthy, why some brands are not considered vegan. We will also highlight healthier alternatives to traditional, sugar-loaded, cranberry juice. Let’s get started!
Contents
- Is Cranberry Juice Bad For You?
- Nutritional Facts for Cranberry Juice (Not Vegan Certified)
- Healthy Vegan Alternatives to Cranberry Juice
- Related Questions
Is Cranberry Juice Bad For You?
It truly depends on the cranberry juice brand, specifically the ingredients in the juice. Certain brands add ingredients like sugar alcohols which can cause a mild case of upset stomach and possibly even diarrhea. Additionally, drinking too much cranberry juice can actually lead to kidney stones, which are quite painful to suffer through.
On the other hand, cranberry juice is incredibly effective in fighting against infections, relieves sore throats, and can cure colds. Rich in organic acids, cranberry juice can be good to combat obesity by the benefits of cranberry juice which has an emulsifying effect on the fat deposits in the body.
Once again, this all depends on the ingredients in the actual cranberry juice. “The fewer ingredients the better” is always a good rule to follow.
Nutritional Facts for Cranberry Juice (Not Vegan Certified)
Welch’s, Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Filtered Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Cranberry Juice From Concentrate (Filtered Water, Cranberry Juice Concentrate)
- Grape Juice From Concentrate (Filtered Water, Grape Juice Concentrate)
- Natural Flavor
- Citric Acid (For Tartness)
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
- Gluten-free
- No preservatives
- No artificial colors
- No artificial flavors
Nutrition Facts (per 1 can, 162 mL):
- Calories- 100
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 24g
- Protein- 0g
Containing 20g of added sugar, which—holy smokes!–is a lot, Welch’s Cranberry Juice is not considered the healthiest option. Though it doesn’t contain any preservatives, artificial colors, or artificial flavors, it does contain “natural flavor” which can be derived from animals. Since it was not specified where the natural flavors were derived from, as well as the absence of being “certified vegan” on the label, we’ve decided to include this brand’s product as non-vegan until found otherwise.
LANGERS, Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Filtered Water
- Cranberry juice concentrate
- Natural flavor
- Citric acid
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Fruit and vegetable juice (color)
- Sucralose
- Gluten-free
- No added sugar
- No acesulfame potassium
- No artificial colors
- No artificial flavors
- non-GMO
- Gluten-free
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup, 137 mL):
- Calories- 5
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 2g
- Protein- 0g
This five-calorie Cranberry Juice Cocktail by LANGERS is just that—only five calories! Though it doesn’t contain any artificial colors or artificial flavors, it does contain “natural flavor” which can be derived from animals. Since it was not specified where the natural flavors were derived from, as well as the absence of being “certified vegan” on the label, we’ve decided to include this brand’s product as non-vegan until found otherwise.
Apple & Eve, Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Filtered Water
- Cranberry juice concentrate
- Apple juice concentrate
- Malic acid (for tartness)
- Fruit and vegetable extract (color)
- Natural flavor
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- No artificial sweeteners
- non-GMO
Nutrition Facts (per 16 fl. oz., 473 mL):
- Calories- 210
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 52g
- Protein- 0g
With no artificial sweeteners and non-GMO certified, Apple & Eve’s Cranberry Juice Cocktail is a sweet and tasty drink. Though it doesn’t contain ingredients that technically stand out as non-vegan (like milk), it does contain “natural flavor” which can be derived from animals. Since it was not specified where the natural flavors were derived from, as well as the absence of being “certified vegan” on the label, we’ve decided to include this brand’s product as non-vegan until found otherwise.
Minute Maid, Cranberry Cocktail
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Pure filtered water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Apple, cranberry, and grape juices from concentrate
- Citric acid (provides tartness)
- Natural flavors
- Sugar
- CONTAINS GMOs
Nutrition Facts (per 1 can):
- Calories- 220
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 60g
- Protein- 0g
This drink is not considered healthy or recommended to anyone looking for a healthy drink. It has 53g of added sugars and contains ingredients sourced from genetically engineered crops (known as GMOs). It also contains the ingredient “natural flavor” which can be derived from animals. Since it was not specified where the natural flavors were derived from, as well as the absence of being “certified vegan” on the label, we’ve decided to include this brand’s product as non-vegan until found otherwise.
Healthy Vegan Alternatives to Cranberry Juice
Fruit Fast, Unsweetened Pure Cranberry Juice Concentrate
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- 100% pure cranberry juice concentrate
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- non-GMO
- No added sugars
- Kosher
- No preservatives
Nutrition Facts (per 1 oz., about 2 tbsp.):
- Calories- 60
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 14g
- Protein- 0g
Containing only one ingredient, Fruit Fast’s Cranberry Unsweetened Pure Juice Concentrate has zero added sugars and all the nutritional benefits of cranberries. This product is vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and non-GMO, making it a perfectly healthy treat!
Dynamic Health, Pure Cranberry Concentrate
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Cranberry juice concentrate
- Filtered water
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- Kosher
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup, 8 fl. oz.):
- Calories- 120
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 30g
- Protein- 0g
An unsweetened concentrate with only two ingredients, Dynamic Health’s Pure Cranberry Concentrate has no added sugar and all the benefits of cranberries. Vegan-friendly, this product is perfect in smoothies, fruit cocktails, and as a healthy topping for desserts or yogurts!
Knudsen, Just Cranberry Juice
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Cranberry juice concentrate
- Filtered water (sufficient to reconstitute)
- Vegan
- No preservatives
- No artificial flavors
- non-GMO
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup, 8 fl. oz.):
- Calories- 70
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 18g
- Protein- 0g
Knudsen has done it again! Providing the people with products containing no artificial ingredients and healthy, wholesome ingredients, this Just Cranberry Juice is one of the outstanding and nutritionally beneficial products this brand provides (and it’s vegan-friendly!)
Country Spoon, Cranberry Juice Concentrate
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Cranberry juice concentrate
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- non-GMO
- No added sugars
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup, 8 fl. oz.):
- Calories- 120
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 31g
- Protein- 0g
Containing only one ingredient, Country Spoon’s Cranberry Juice Concentrate has antioxidants that fight free radical damage while also supporting the immune system (the powerful nutritional benefits of cranberry!). This product is vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO.
Ocean Spray, Cranberry Juice
Ingredients for this flavor include:
- Cranberry juice (water, cranberry juice concentrate)
- Grape juice (water, grape juice concentrate)
- Apple juice (water, apple juice concentrate)
- Pear juice (water, pear juice concentrate)
- Natural flavor
- Pectin
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- No sugar added
Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup, 8 fl. oz.):
- Calories- 100
- Total Fat- 0g
- Total Carbs- 29g
- Protein- 0g
With no sugar added, Ocean Spray’s Cranberry Juice is considered vegan-friendly. No artificial flavors or preservatives are added, making it a healthier choice in the juice aisle!
Related Questions
What are cranberry pills?
Cranberry Concentrate pills are interestingly popular for their benefits that include: antioxidants (proanthocyanidins (PACs), vitamins (Vitamins C, E, and K), manganese (for joint and bone health), and for the support of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Does Cranberry juice help cure a UTI?
Unfortunately, no. Though it is commonly believed that cranberry juice aids in relieving UTI symptoms and such, a study was performed to verify this information and there was no evidence found of cranberry juice counteracting a UTI.