Staying active and eating a well balanced diet are essential to good health. Welch's products can be a delicious part of a healthy diet. Click on any of the Facts Sheets to learn more about our products. Within this section you can also find downloadable brochures and education materials, as well as articles and resource links.
Educational Video: The Science of Antioxidants
Welch's has developed an animation designed to help you explain the complex science of antioxidants in a way your clients will enjoy and understand. Review this video and share it with your clients who may want to better understand how antioxidants, like polyphenols, work.
Client Fact Sheets
See how Welch's products can fit within a healthy and active lifestyle. The following fact sheets may be downloaded and printed for use with your clients.
- Welch's 100% Grape Juice Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's 100% Grape Juice with Calcium Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's 100% Grape Juice with Fiber Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's 100% White Grape Juice Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's Light Juice Beverages Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's Diet Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's Dried Fruit Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Welch's Reduced Sugar Jelly and Spread Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Antioxidant Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Chemistry of Grapes (PDF)
Nutrition Education Materials
The following educational materials were developed for elementary school aged children and may be downloaded and reproduced for educational purposes:
- Activity Sheets A (younger grades) (PDF)
- Activity Sheets B (younger grades) (PDF)
- Activity Sheets A (older grades) (PDF)
- Activity Sheets B (older grades) (PDF)
- Poster Coloring Sheet A (PDF)
- Poster Coloring Sheet B (PDF)
For information on Welch's in-school nutrition education program - P.A.C.K. Week (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids) – click here
The following materials were developed for health professional education and may be used regarding the health and nutrition benefits of grape juice:
Health FAQs
Here are some questions that I commonly get asked along with my responses. Periodically, I will answer and post new Ask The Expert questions, so if you have a question that you can't find the answer to, please submit it at Ask the Expert. Be sure to check back to see if I've selected your question to post.
Casey Lewis, MS, RD.
Q. Do you use monosodium glutamate (MSG) in any of your products?
A. No, you can be assured that no MSG is used in any of our products.
Q. What is pectin, and what is the fruit pectin in your products made from?
A. Pectin is a substance derived from fruit, which yields a gel. To help our products gel, we use pectin in our jellies, jams and spreads. The particular pectin we use is derived from apples or citrus peel.
Q. The American Heart Association (AHA) verbiage on the Welch's Purple 100% Grape Juice label states "for healthy people over age two.” Why is that?
A. The AHA has created its Food Certification Program to help consumers identify heart-healthy foods. Welch's 100% Grape Juice products displaying the heart-check mark are certified by the AHA, and they have no saturated fat or cholesterol. The AHA states “The Food Certification Program is designed for healthy people over the age of 2. If you have a medical condition, please contact your physician or registered dietitian before making changes in your diet.” Children need fat in their diet to help fuel proper growth and development. Starting at the age of 2, children’s diets, like adults’, should be moderate in total fat.
Q. I have diabetes and have noticed that Welch's Purple 100% Grape Juice contains 40 grams of sugar per 8-ounce serving. Can I drink it?
A. Welch's 100% Grape Juice contains a naturally high amount of the natural sugars fructose and glucose. If you have diabetes, always be sure to check with your doctor or dietitian for advice on food choices that are right for you and assistance with your individual meal planning.
Q. How many calories are in a glass of Welch's Purple 100% Grape Juice?
A. An 8-ounce serving of our Purple 100% Grape Juice contains 170 calories. Click Here for Nutrition Fact Panel information.
Q. What’s the difference between Welchs 100% White Grape Juice and other white grape juices?
A. Welch's 100% White Grape Juice is, just as the name suggests, made of 100% white grape juice. Some 100% juices labeled "white grape juice" may be made with apple or pear juice, as well as white grape juice. In addition, Welch’s 100% White Grape Juice, made with juice from the entire Niagara grape, contains twice as much antioxidant power as apple juice, and it even contains more than other white grape juices. (Per ORAC lab testing of the juice; does not apply to concentrates).
Q. What type of gelatin is used in Welch’s Fruit Snacks?
A. The gelatin used in Welch’s Fruit Snacks is pork based.
Q. What is the amount of potassium in Welch's 100% Grape Juice?
A. Welch's 100% Grape Juice contains approximately 120 mg of potassium per 8-ounce serving.
Q. Does Welch's 100% Red Grape Juice contain the same heart healthy benefits as 100% Grape Juice?
A. No research has been conducted using red grape juice so we do not know what, if any benefits there may be to consuming red grape juice.
Q. Are Welch's juices and juice drinks pasteurized?
A. Yes, all Welch's juices and juice drinks are pasteurized. Welch’s was actually the first company to pasteurize juice and has been making 100% grape juice from our own growers’ Concord grapes since 1869.
Q. Do Welch's products contain gluten?
A. All Welch’s products are gluten-free.
Q. Do Welch's 100% juices have added sugar?
A. No, there's absolutely no sugar added to our 100% juice products. The grams of sugar you see on our labels actually refer to the naturally occurring fructose and glucose found in the fruit used to make our products.
Q. Do Welch's juice products contain preservatives?
A. Welch’s ready-to-drink 100% Grape Juice and juice cocktails do not contain any preservatives. However, Welch’s ready-to-drink 100% White Grape Juice does contain the preservative potassium metabisulfite, which is added to prevent browning and maintain color. Welch’s 100% Sparkling Juices and Sparkling Juice Cocktails also contain potassium metabisulfite, as well as the preservative sodium benzoate. Many of our frozen concentrates and shelf stable concentrates contain sulfites to maintain flavor and color.
Q. Do Welch’s Dried Fruit products contain preservatives?
A. Some of Welch’s Dried Fruit do contain the preservative sulfur dioxide. This will be listed on the back panel with the ingredient statement. Welch’s Dried Cherries, for example, do not contain sulfur dioxide.
Q. Do Welch's jellies, jams and fruit spreads contain preservatives?
A. Most of our jellies, jams and fruit spreads do not contain preservatives. As long as the containers are refrigerated after opening, they should maintain their freshness for several months. Due to lower sugar levels, our reduced sugar jelly & spread do use a preservative to maintain freshness after the product is opened.
Q. Are Welch’s products produced in a nut-free environment?
A. Welch’s 100% juices, juice beverages, jams, jellies and fruit snacks are produced in a nut-free environment. Welch's Dried Fruit is manufactured in a plant that also makes products that contain nuts and peanuts. We recommend discussing this information with your physician to ensure that Welch’s Dried Fruit is safe for you to consume.
Q. What does "from concentrate” mean as noted on the label?
A. All juice manufacturers are required to state "from concentrate" on their front label if their product contains any juice from concentrate.
Q. What’s the difference between jelly, jam, preserves and spreads?
A. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines these terms, and the definitions can be lengthy. However, as a general rule: Jelly is made from fruit juice; Jam is made from pureed fruit; Preserves are made from whole fruit; Spreads are made from whole fruit and/or pureed fruit.
Q. What’s the difference among 100% Juice, Juice Cocktails, and Juice Drinks?
A. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines these terms, and the definitions can be lengthy. However, as a general rule: “100% Juice” is either squeezed directly from the fruit or made from concentrated juice that is reconstituted with water. Welch’s 100% Juices never contain any added sweeteners. “Juice Cocktails” and “Juice Drinks” are formulated with less than 100% juice and, in most cases, contain added sweeteners as well. Note: You can find the juice content of all Welch’s Juice Cocktails and Juice Drinks above the Nutrition Facts panel of the product label, shown as a percentage.
Q. Do Welch’s No. 7 plastic bottles contain Bisphenol A (BPA)?
A. No. It is important for consumers to understand that not all No. 7 plastics contain Bisphenol A. Bisphenol A is not used in any of Welch’s plastic bottles.
Q. I have heard the term French Paradox, but I’m not clear on what it means or how it could be related to grape juice. Can you help?
A. The French Paradox describes the unexpectedly low incidence of heart disease among the French despite their typically high-fat diets. A suggested reason is the consumption of red wine - which is made from dark grapes.
Q. How much juice do you need to consume in order to reap its benefits?
A. Just 4 ounces of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice counts as a ½ cup or 1 serving of fruit and provides you with a unique combination of healthful plant nutrients not found in other color groups of fruits and vegetables. For other specific health benefits, we do not recommend dosages.
Q. What are the health benefits of Welch’s 100% Grape Juice?
A. Welch’s 100% Grape Juice, made from Concord grapes, has twice the natural antioxidant power of orange juice (per ORAC lab testing of the juice). Welch’s 100% Grape Juice contains the antioxidant vitamin C to help support a healthy immune system. In addition, it has no added sugars and counts towards our daily fruit requirements. To add to that, along with a healthy, produce-rich diet and an active lifestyle, Welch’s 100% Grape Juice can give the whole family a heart healthy start. Welch’s 100% Grape Juice is certified by the American Heart Association and carries the AHA heart check mark.
Q. Do any of Welch’s products contain caffeine?
A. All Welch’s products are caffeine-free. If you have any additional questions, please visit http://www.welchs.com/about-welchs/faq.aspx.
Q. Do you get the same amount of antioxidants in Welch's Light and in Welch's 100% Grape Juice?
A. Welch’s 100% Grape Juice made from Concord grapes has higher antioxidant power per serving than Welch’s Light Concord Grape Juice Beverage. However, made from our delicious Concord grapes and enhanced with natural grape seed extract to deliver more antioxidant power than 100% orange juice, each 8oz serving of Light delivers 50 quality calories and 100% Daily Value of the antioxidant vitamin C.
For more information on Welch’s 100% Grape Juice and its antioxidant power, please visit http://www.welchs.com/healthprofessionals/the-science.
Q. Can you help me explain free radicals and antioxidants?
A. Free Radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have one or more unpaired electrons. They are a normal part of everyday life, and are produced during activities like exercising or digestion (when our bodies convert food into energy). Free radicals are highly reactive, but our bodies have a natural defense system, so in small numbers, they are not a big problem. However, exposure to certain environmental factors like pollution and UV radiation can also trigger the formation of free radicals. And, when there are too many free radicals for our bodies to protect against, they can set off a damaging chain reaction, which can result in oxidative stress. Antioxidants are compounds in foods and beverages that can help protect healthy cells from the damaging effects of oxidative stress, a condition which has been implicated in a number of chronic disease. Vitamins C, E and A (as beta-carotene), and the mineral selenium, as well as certain phytonutrients (such as polyphenols) can act as antioxidants.
Q. How can you measure the total antioxidants in particular foods?
A. Certain antioxidants, such as vitamin C and polyphenols, can be measured in foods and beverages. However, there currently isn’t a measure for total antioxidants. There is a test tube measure of a food’s antioxidant power called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). The higher the ORAC score, the higher its antioxidant power.
Q. Why should I choose Welch’s 100% Grape Juice?
A. It's 100% juice, so it has no added sugars and counts towards servings of fruit in the diet. Additionally, Welch's 100% Grape Juice is made from the entire Concord grape, including the skins and seeds, which is pressed to release natural polyphenol antioxidants.
Health & Nutrition Glossary
Antioxidants are compounds in foods and beverages that can help protect healthy cells from the damaging effects of oxidative stress, a condition which has been implicated in a number of chronic diseases. Vitamins C, E and A (as beta-carotene), and the mineral selenium, as well as certain phytonutrients (such as polyphenols) can act as antioxidants.
Concord grape is a hearty American grape with a thick, dark purple skin and seeds that naturally contain phytonutrients called polyphenols Seedless grapes, like red table grapes, do not appear to contain the same quantity or variety of these polyphenols.
Free Radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have one or more unpaired electrons. They are a normal part of everyday life, and are produced during activities like exercising or digestion (when our bodies convert food into energy). Free radicals are highly reactive, but our bodies have a natural defense system – so in small numbers, they are not a big problem. However, exposure to certain environmental factors like pollution and UV radiation can also trigger the formation of free radicals. And, when there are too many free radicals for our bodies to protect against, they can set off a damaging chain reaction, which in turn can result in oxidative stress.
Flavonoids are the largest and most studied sub-group of polyphenols and represent the vast majority of the polyphenols found in both the Niagara and Concord grapes. There are thousands of different flavonoids in fruits, vegetables and certain plant-derived beverages (i.e. teas and juices). Many of these flavonoids act as antioxidants and are becoming popular because of their potential health-promoting effects.
French Paradox is a term used to describe the unexpectedly low incidence of heart disease among the French despite their typically high saturated fat diets.
Macronutrients are nutrients that the body needs in large quantities, like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Micronutrients are nutrients that the body needs in smaller quantities, like vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
Niagara grape is a hearty American grape, and like its cousin the Concord, it is a seeded grape containing natural phytonutrients. Seedless grapes, like green table grapes, do not appear to contain the same quantity or variety of phytonutrients.
Nutrients are compounds needed for human growth and development.
ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a common test tube measure used to identify the antioxidant potential or power of certain foods and beverages. A higher ORAC score means more antioxidant power.
Oxidative Stress is a condition that can damage healthy cells. It has been identified as a possible factor in causing some chronic diseases.
Phytonutrients are plant-based nutrients that appear to have health-promoting effects, but are not considered essential for human survival. Fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and teas are rich sources of these compounds which are being actively investigated by the scientific community for their impact on human health.
Polyphenols are a sub-group of phytonutrients. They are found in foods like onions, tea, red wine, grapes, and certain nuts. Polyphenols naturally protect plants against pathogens, parasites and predators, and often contribute to the flavor and color of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables that are high in polyphenols tend to also be high in antioxidant power, or ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity).
Resveratrol is a natural compound (a Polyphenol) that can sometimes be found in the skin of grapes with more found in dark grapes found in cooler climates, with less sunlight and more rainfall. Certain plants produce resveratrol in response to environmental stress like fungal infections. Scientists became interested in studying resveratrol as part of the possible link to the French Paradox.
Here are some questions that I commonly get asked along with my responses. Visit Ask The Expert to see the most recent questions or if you’d like to ask a question that is not answered within our site.
If you have a grape or Welch's health & nutrition question that you’d like to ask Casey, let us know.
