Juice Label Critics Are Berry Angry

WASHINGTON — The label says “Very Cherry,” but the fine print says the bottle holds mostly white grape and apple juice, a consumer group said.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said the truth about what’s in fruit-juice products is usually hidden in small type on the back of the bottle.

“The food industry is cheating the American consumer out of hundreds of millions of dollars annually by passing off what is mostly apple and grape juice as more expensive kiwi, peach, strawberry and cherry juice,” said Bruce Silverglade, the group’s legal affairs director.

John R. Cady, president of the National Food Processors Assn., retorted that “if CSPI had its way, food labels would consist of nothing but green lights, red lights, sirens and warnings. There would be no room for the brand name or picture.”