Innocent smoothies contents

[Energize]

Innocent smoothie prices hit the roof after coca-cola took over, volume reduced by 25% while the prices increased! Doesn't help with the tax on healthy food that is VAT. I can buy cakes with god knows how many calories in without being raped for it, yet fruit blends get charged 20% tax, disgraceful.

 

[grudas]

Tesco sell 750 ml smoothies for 1uid! I love them.

 

[EyepodI]

Very likely most of the ingredients are just the juice from the fruit with the exception of the bananas. Other wise the consistency would be a thick porridge like fruit stodge. Dubious marketing - it's just fruit juice with blended bananas.

Make your own much healthier with the whole ingredients from the op but you'll need added fruit juice and yogurt to make it the right consistency.

 

[Guest2]

Make your own much healthier with the whole ingredients from the op but you'll need added fruit juice and yogurt to make it the right consistency.

This is what I dont understand, how do they have a yogurt consistency if there is only banana and fruit juice in?

It also says on the packaging that the 'whole fruit is used' yet there are no bits and seeds. I call shenanigans

 

[Heliospherez]

Does it say anything about added water

Even if the above ingredients were pressed in the most powerful industrial press you could get - I doubt you would get even 300ml of actual juice..... and as said above, it would be more of a slush as opposed to a juice.

However, if they then add 300 - 400ml of water & blended it a bit more - you would get a reasonably nice juice and technically you haven't added any ingredients.

Not really rocket science is it.

 

[EyepodI]

This is what I dont understand, how do they have a yogurt consistency if there is only banana and fruit juice in?

It also says on the packaging that the 'whole fruit is used' yet there are no bits and seeds. I call shenanigans

The blended bananas would give it a thickened texture rather like yogurt. I make two pints of the stuff every few days but only use one banana and some yogurt. They're using two bananas (probably frozen)

I suspect they're not so "innocent" as they're making out. Telling you half the story, leaving out the nasty stuff just to conform to food labeling obligations which are pretty weak.

For example MSG gets hidden in food products by calling it any of the following:

Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Hydrolyzed Protein, Hydrolyzed Plant Protein, Plant Protein Extract, Sodium Caseinate, Calcium Caseinate, Yeast Extract, Textured Protein, Autolyzed Yeast, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Corn Oil, Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring, Bouillon, Broth, Stock, Flavoring, Natural Flavors/Flavoring, Natural Beef Or Chicken Flavoring, Seasoning, Spices or various "E" numbers

 

[oulton]

I used to like them but I think the quality has dropped since coke bought them, they taste a bit odd now.

I make my own!

 

[Hank_Marvin]

I got a carton the other day as it was reduced, I'd really forgotten just how sweet they are, painful to drink.

 

[Firestar_3x]

Think you skim read his post guys....

Not really, his post read like each vat contained only 2.5 apples, 2 bananas etc.

But yes, clearly they don't make it on a per carton basis.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

I suspect they're not so "innocent" as they're making out. Telling you half the story, leaving out the nasty stuff just to conform to food labeling obligations which are pretty weak.

You'd suspect wrong.

I used to like them but I think the quality has dropped since coke bought them, they taste a bit odd now.

I make my own!

Well, nothing changed! Not even the suppliers

 

[Johno please?]

This is what I dont understand, how do they have a yogurt consistency if there is only banana and fruit juice in?

It also says on the packaging that the 'whole fruit is used' yet there are no bits and seeds. I call shenanigans

Depends which ones you buy, I have one at home at the moment which is thick and full of seeds.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

This is also why they don't use fresh fruit. They couldn't get a consistent product. Somey fruit would be under/over ripe. Frozen is the only way to get the quantity required in a maintainable consistent condition.

That's correct, and also so they can control the ripening process better (and therefore sweetness to some degree).

The fruit content quoted on each smoothie is an average, but is reasonably accurate. They vary (in a minor way) the content of the base fruits; apple, bananas and oranges to get the right sweetness/tartness - this is done by machines.

 

[Firestar_3x]

This is what I dont understand, how do they have a yogurt consistency if there is only banana and fruit juice in?

It also says on the packaging that the 'whole fruit is used' yet there are no bits and seeds. I call shenanigans

Yep, feels like it's got a yogurt base to me, you seem to have the following options:

You should start off with between 1-2 cups of liquid. This goes into the blender first as it needs to be surrounding the blade in order for the blending process to start properly. There are many different types of liquids you can you use depending on your dietary and taste preferences:

•Dairy Milk is the most common choice. All types of milk work well as they have a neutral and smooth taste allowing the remaining ingredients to set the tone.
•Soy Milk is our top pick as it's a great source of protein, calcium, isoflavones, has no lactose or cholesterol, and lasts much longer than cow's milk.
•Almond and Coconut Milk are a great alternative to the others if you don't want either soy or dairy products.
•Fruit Juices can be used to increase the nutrient content of the smoothie, but beware of added sugar, as this will increase the caloric density of the smoothie and can overpower the natural sugars from real fruits.
•Tea adds caffeine and antioxidants; we recommend something without added sugar or fruity flavorings such as green or black tea.
•Coffee can also be used to add caffeine a la an iced Frappucino.
•Yogurt is another option which provides probiotic live cultures and calcium.
•Water can be used as well.

Every smoothie i've ever been made fresh has a yogurt base.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

This is what I dont understand, how do they have a yogurt consistency if there is only banana and fruit juice in?

The banana is the thickener; when mashed correctly and at the right temperatures it'll hold that consistency.

It also says on the packaging that the 'whole fruit is used' yet there are no bits and seeds. I call shenanigans

Larger seeds from kiwi and pomegranate are finely mashed. Seeds remain in their strawberry style drinks, they're just too small to notice in the thicker consistency.

 

[One More Solo]

Innocent smoothie prices hit the roof after coca-cola took over, volume reduced by 25% while the prices increased! Doesn't help with the tax on healthy food that is VAT. I can buy cakes with god knows how many calories in without being raped for it, yet fruit blends get charged 20% tax, disgraceful.

Probably because the fruit blends contain as much sugar and calories as the cake tbh.

 

[Freefaller]

They'll bulk buy everything so it probably costs them pennies per 750ml. The carton probably costs more than the fruit.

 

[Nexus]

Stick too much frozen banana in a homemade smoothie and it can end up like a sorbet. It is thick without the need to add yogurt or any other ingredient.

 

[Hatter The Mad]

They'll bulk buy everything so it probably costs them pennies per 750ml. The carton probably costs more than the fruit.

Not quite, because of the freight costs. They manage to keep pricing down by a seriously agressive and clever scientific approach to automating their logistics - not a blueberry is over or underbought in.

 

[Freefaller]

Not quite, because of the freight costs. They manage to keep pricing down by a seriously agressive and clever scientific approach to automating their logistics - not a blueberry is over or underbought in.

That's a good point - whilst not THAT company, but I know of similar companies that have a very good Lean / Six Sigma culture going on and follow a fantastic just in time (JIT) methodology (I did apply for Coca Cola - but didn't get the job ). However, the fact remains that they will still buy in large quantities irrespective of whether or not they stockpile - and that also does save money.

However, your point is very valid and one I'm embarrassed that I didn't think of mentioning!

 

[peter_hutson]

The bulk purchase of "ugly" furit and veg results in massive savings. We buy carrots for the horse in 15 kilo bags. They are mis shaped and often small, though they actually taste sweeter than the horribly forced and graded one's in the super market. The cost of a 15 kilo bag, £3. Which if you were buying in the bulk that innocent do would fall even further. A massive percentage of the cost of F&F is due to cleaning, grading and quality control (though in fact this often results in a poorer quality product).

EDIT; Forgot "transportation" too