Is Simply Peach Juice Drink Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing the label of Simply Peach Juice Drink, the primary ingredients are pure filtered water, peach juice, cane sugar, lemon juice, peach puree, and natural flavors. At first glance, these appear entirely plant-derived. However, the devil is in the details, specifically regarding the cane sugar.

The issue lies in how sugar is processed in the United States. Many American sugar refiners filter their cane sugar using bone char—charred animal bones—to bleach the sugar white and remove impurities. While no bone char remains in the final product, its use in the manufacturing process renders the sugar non-vegan to many strict adherents. Because Simply does not specify that their cane sugar is organic or explicitly 'vegan-certified,' we must assume it is standard refined sugar.

Regarding the other ingredients, natural flavors are generally safe in fruit beverages, usually consisting of essential oils or extracts from the fruit itself. However, because the FDA allows companies to hide the source of these flavors, there is a microscopic risk that they could be derived from animal sources, though this is highly unlikely in a fruit juice product. The peach puree and lemon juice are clearly plant-based and serve to enhance the texture and tartness of the drink.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Simply Peach Juice Drink is essentially a sweetened beverage with a splash of vitamins. A standard serving contains roughly 120 calories, all of which come from carbohydrates due to the added cane sugar and natural fruit sugars.

The drink contains 0g of fat and 0g of protein. It does provide a small amount of Vitamin C from the lemon juice and peaches, but it is not a significant source of fiber or micronutrients compared to eating whole fruit. For those monitoring their sugar intake, this drink contributes a significant portion of the daily recommended limit in just one glass, which is a consideration for anyone, vegan or not, looking to maintain a healthy diet.