Does Pasteurization Affect the Nutrients in Fruit?

Pasteurization

Dairy products, alcoholic beverages and fruit juices are commonly pasteurized. In fact, it’s very difficult to find fruit juice in a mainstream grocery store that hasn’t been pasteurized because it wouldn't remain unspoiled by harmful bacteria. The pasteurization process typically involves heating beverages up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit in order to kill bacteria, although many fungi and parasites are also destroyed by the heat. Flash pasteurization uses higher temperatures and only requires about 10 seconds or less to complete, whereas traditional pasteurization requires up to 30 minutes. Before pasteurizing the juice, the vast majority of inorganic fruit is irradiated with high-frequency gamma rays in order to kill insect larvae, parasites and other pathogens. This method destroys more nutrients than pasteurization.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is needed to make and repair collagen, which is the elastic-like protein found in skin and connective tissues and is important for immune function. Unfortunately, vitamin C is very sensitive to heat and oxidation. Consequently, a significant amount of vitamin C is destroyed by pasteurization, although some juice manufacturers may add more to their products after the pasteurization process to compensate for the loss. Perhaps more importantly, vitamin C deteriorates quickly when exposed to oxygen, so there may not be much viable vitamin C left for pasteurization to destroy by the time the juice gets to that stage. This is why some “before and after” pasteurization studies examining vitamin content may be misleading or confusing.

Antioxidants and Enzymes

Antioxidants in fruits and veggies, especially compounds called phenols, are also very sensitive to heat and oxidation. As such, a significant amount of antioxidants are destroyed by commercial production of juice and the pasteurization process. Antioxidants destroy free radicals, which are chemical by-products that damage and age tissues such as arteries. Fruits, especially pineapple and papaya, contain enzymes that help break down protein and other components of food. Enzymes such as those are also destroyed by heat.

Irradiation

Many pasteurized products are also irradiated, which is capable of destroying other kinds of nutrients because the gamma rays deeply penetrate food and alter the molecular structure. For example, irradiation can destroy vitamins A, B-12, D and E. Irradiation also alters the natural life cycle of plants, which delays ripening and prevents sprouting.

Tips

Pasteurization is helpful for making packaged fruit juice safer to drink, but freshly squeezed juice doesn’t pose a health concern in terms of contamination because vitamin C, citric acid and other compounds in fruit and veggies have antimicrobial properties. Concern arises when those protective nutrients break-down due to oxidation, which allows bacteria and other microorganisms to grow and feed on the fructose and other sugars in the juice. Consequently, to get the most nutritious juice that’s safe to drink, squeeze your own at home and immediately drink it.