Is Simply Cranberry Juice Cocktail Cranberry Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing Simply Cranberry Juice Cocktail, the ingredient list appears deceptively simple: water, cranberry juice, cane sugar, and natural flavors. However, for a Senior Food Scientist, these four items tell a complex story regarding vegan compliance.

The primary controversy lies in the cane sugar. In the United States, a significant portion of cane sugar is processed using bone char—charred animal bones—to bleach the sugar crystals white. While the sugar itself contains no bone char particles, the processing method renders it non-vegan in the strictest sense. Unless Simply explicitly labels their sugar as 'organic' or 'unrefined,' it is difficult to guarantee it hasn't been filtered this way.

Furthermore, the natural flavors are a regulatory catch-all. While they likely refer to cranberry essence or citrus oils to enhance the tart profile, the term 'natural flavors' can technically hide animal-derived compounds (like castoreum, though rare). Because manufacturers are not required to disclose the source of these flavors, they remain a flag for strict vegans.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Simply Cranberry Juice Cocktail is relatively standard for a fruit drink. A standard serving contains roughly 110 calories, derived almost entirely from the added cane sugar. There is zero fat and negligible protein.

The main health consideration is the sugar content, which sits around 26-28 grams per serving. While cranberry juice offers antioxidants, the added sugar dilutes the health benefits. For those on a low-glycemic or diabetic-friendly diet, this juice would be flagged as a high-sugar item, regardless of its vegan status.