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Storia

Storia Pomegranate Juice

Name: Storia Pomegranate Juice
Brand: Storia

Use in moderation SafeShelf · review pending

NOVA 4no added sugarzero fatstevia sweetenedvitamin c sourceultra-processedgluten-freediabetic-safenut-freepregnancy-safelactose-freeenjoy in moderation

Serving

100 g

Pack

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Ingredients

Barcode

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01 — Ingredient mix

What’s in the box, ranked from most concerning.

Each ingredient gets a tier from our researched dossier. The list sorts worst-first; the donut summarises the distribution. Tap any ingredient for its full dossier.

Caution · 2 ingredients shown

Caution2 of 6 ingredients

Fruit Juice* [Apple Concentrate 12% & Pomegranate Juice Concentrate 4%]Caution

SaltCaution

Cleared 4▾

WaterCleared

Acidity Regulators [INS331(iii), INS330]Cleared

Stevia [INS960]Cleared

Antioxidant [INS300]Cleared

02 — Claims audit

Every label claim, fact-checked.

We treat each claim as a question — does what’s inside back it up? Tap a claim for the reasoning.

0/1

claims fully supported

“No Added Sugar”misleading

The nutrition panel confirms 0 g added sugar per 100 ml; all 11.4 g of total sugar derives from natural fruit juice concentrates. However, the product does contain stevia (INS960) as an added non-caloric sweetener — 'No Added Sugar' is technically correct under FSSAI definitions (which define added sugar as caloric sugars), but consumers should be aware an added sweetener is present.

03 — The fuller picture

Read the whole thing if a one-line verdict isn’t enough.

What’s in favour, and what’s working against it

In favour

Zero added caloric sugars confirmed by nutrition panel and label declaration
All 11.4 g sugars per 100 ml are entirely from natural fruit sources
Zero fat content
Contains Vitamin C — 10 mg per 100 ml, providing ~10% RDA
Vegetarian certified (FSSAI green dot mark visible)

Working against

NOVA 4 ultra-processed: contains stevia sweetener and nature-identical flavouring
Pomegranate is only 4% of the blend; apple concentrate (12%) dominates
11.4 g free sugars per 100 ml — relevant for diabetes and children
Added stevia (INS960) despite juice product positioning
50 mg sodium per 100 ml from added salt and sodium citrate
Nature-identical flavouring used to simulate pomegranate character

Who should approach with care

Infants — Fruit juice concentrates (including apple and pomegranate) are not recommended for infants under 12 months per paediatric guidelines; additionally, stevia is not permitted in infant formula, and apple concentrate carries inorganic arsenic and lead risk disproportionate in small body sizes.

Children — High free-sugar content (11.4 g/100 ml) from fruit concentrates risks excess sugar intake and dental caries; apple concentrate also poses disproportionate arsenic and lead exposure per body weight, and stevia exposure at maximum levels can approach the EFSA ADI for toddlers.

Diabetes — Pomegranate juice concentrate may potentiate blood-glucose-lowering medications via inhibition of α-amylase and DPP-4; FSSAI also explicitly cautions against stevia-sweetened products for blood glucose management in diabetic individuals.

Hypertension — Added salt (NaCl) and sodium citrate (INS331(iii)) contribute 50 mg sodium per 100 ml; WHO and EFSA identify any incremental sodium intake as continuously elevating blood pressure, and pomegranate and stevia may both have additive blood-pressure-lowering effects that complicate antihypertensive drug management.

Kidney Disease — Impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete the combined sodium load from salt and sodium citrate, and elevated potassium from fruit concentrates risks hyperkalaemia; sodium citrate may also cause metabolic alkalosis at elevated intakes in renal patients.

Heart Disease — Added salt promotes fluid retention and raises blood pressure, increasing cardiac workload, a risk WHO links to 1.89 million sodium-attributable deaths annually; patients on cardiac medications should also be aware of potential CYP3A4 inhibition by pomegranate concentrate.

Pregnancy — Apple juice concentrate is a source of inorganic arsenic and lead which can cross the placenta and affect foetal neurodevelopment; added salt may exacerbate gestational hypertension risk, and stevia lacks pregnancy-specific clinical safety data.

Liver Disease — Pomegranate juice concentrate may inhibit CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 hepatic enzymes, potentially altering metabolism of multiple medications in individuals with compromised liver function.

Ibs — Apple and pomegranate fruit concentrates are high in free fructose (a FODMAP), which can trigger bloating, cramping, and diarrhoea in IBS patients; manufactured citric acid (INS330) may also worsen GI symptoms in susceptible individuals.

Gout — High fructose content from the fruit concentrates is associated with elevated uric acid levels and may exacerbate gout in individuals already prone to hyperuricaemia.

G6pd Deficiency — Although ascorbic acid (INS300) is present at food-use rather than supplemental doses, individuals with G6PD deficiency should consult a physician regarding habitual regular consumption, as high-dose vitamin C can trigger oxidative haemolysis in this population.

Elderly — Declining renal sodium excretion capacity with age makes the elderly disproportionately susceptible to blood pressure elevation from the combined sodium contribution of added salt and sodium citrate in this product.

The full analysis

This product is typically bought by health-conscious consumers seeking a low-calorie, no-added-sugar pomegranate drink. While it delivers zero fat, confirmed zero added caloric sugars, and a modest 10% RDA of Vitamin C per 100 ml, the product is materially misrepresented by its name: pomegranate concentrate accounts for only 4% of the blend versus 12% apple concentrate, and the pomegranate character is substantially reinforced by added nature-identical flavouring — both signals that push it into NOVA 4 ultra-processed territory alongside its stevia sweetener. The single most useful thing a curious consumer should know is that this is effectively a lightly sweetened apple juice drink flavoured to taste like pomegranate, not a genuine pomegranate juice.

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Analysis

Independently researched