Pomegranate juice
Juice from pomegranate fruit, used in cooking and syrup.
Pomegranate juice comes from the fruit of the pomegranate. It appears in cooking as either a fresh juice or a concentrated syrup, and it also serves as the base for pomegranate molasses—a thick, dark red fruit syrup made by reducing the juice of tart pomegranates, which is used in various Middle Eastern cuisines.
Numerous primary studies have looked into possible health benefits of drinking pomegranate juice, but there is no solid evidence that it affects blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin control, or heart disease. There is also a risk that it could interact with prescription drugs.
In marketing, POM Wonderful, a pomegranate product company, promoted the juice. By September 2010, the Federal Trade Commission had filed a false advertising complaint against the company and its principals. After a hearing in May 2012, an administrative law judge upheld some false advertising allegations based on implied claims, while ruling in POM Wonderful’s favor on other points. As of May 24, 2012, the company’s case in U.S. District Court was still pending.
- Type
- Beverage
- Primary use
- Cooking and drinking
- Derived product
- Pomegranate molasses
- Marketing entity
- POM Wonderful
- Regulatory issue
- False advertising complaint by FTC
Lore & Background
Pomegranate juice is made from the fruit of the pomegranate. It is used in cooking both as a fresh juice and as a concentrated syrup. Pomegranate molasses is a fruit syrup made from pomegranate juice, not sugarcane-derived molasses; it is a reduction from the juice of a tart variety of pomegranate, evaporated to form a thick, dark red liquid, and is used in multiple Middle Eastern cuisines.
Reader's Guide
Pomegranate juice has been the subject of various primary studies into possible health benefits, but there is no good evidence to suggest any effect in blood pressure management, glucose and insulin management, or heart disease. Potential risks include interactions with prescription drugs. The juice was marketed by POM Wonderful, a pomegranate products manufacturer. As of September 2010, the company and its principals were the subjects of a false advertising complaint by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In May 2012, after a hearing, the administrative law judge issued an opinion upholding certain false advertising allegations in the FTC's complaint—based on implied as opposed to express claims—and finding for POM Wonderful on other points. As of May 24, 2012, POM Wonderful's action in the U.S. District Court was pending consideration. The entry reflects the disputed and unresolved nature of these claims.
Did You Know?
- There is no good evidence that pomegranate juice affects blood pressure, glucose and insulin management, or heart disease.
- POM Wonderful was the subject of a false advertising complaint by the Federal Trade Commission as of September 2010.
More in Azerbaijani cuisine 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced