Group says Ocean Spray's Choice brand doesn't use real fruit

By Johnny Diaz, Globe Staff

A consumer advocacy group isn't so sweet on the labeling of a new dried fruit cranberry product from Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.

The National Consumers League, based in Washington D.C., sent a letter Tuesday to the US Food and Drug Administration, asking it to investigate the labeling of the Lakeville cooperative's "Choice" brand. The group alleges that Ocean Spray sells the food as "sweetened dried cranberry," but that it has more sugar than real fruit and is made from cranberry skins and not whole cranberries.

"That is a problem for people who are buying a product they think has cranberries when in fact, it's really no longer cranberry," said Sally Greenberg, NCL's executive director.

Ocean Spray officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment late yesterday.

NCL said its findings are based a Nov. 4 report by Krueger Food Laboratories, a Massachusetts company that NCL commissioned after receiving a tip from a "confidential whistle-blower." The analysis found that the "Choice" brand is made with cranberry skin mixed with sugar syrup, inverted beet sugar, and citric acid, according to the NCL.

"We’re all about honesty in labeling and food production and unfortunately these days, you see a lot of products being called things they are not,'' Greenberg said.

NCL's allegations come as the local cranberry giant prepares to launch this spring its "Heritage campaign" to inform consumers about the company's cranberry and grapefruit growers. The campaign, which coincides with the Ocean Spray's 80th anniversary, will celebrate its growers' by featuring their personal stories and photos on product labels and online, according to the company's website.