Is Juice Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated April 13, 2026
The Answer
Yes, most juice is safe during pregnancy when pasteurized. With 4,739 A grade options available, pasteurized juices from major brands like Tropicana, Simply Orange, and Ocean Spray are excellent choices for staying hydrated and getting vitamins.
Juice can be a nutritious part of your pregnancy diet, providing vitamins, hydration, and natural energy. The main concern is unpasteurized or raw juice, which may contain harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria that can cause serious illness during pregnancy. Additionally, some juice products contain added ingredients like high fructose corn syrup or artificial dyes that are best limited.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
✓ What's Safe
- • Pasteurized juice from major grocery store brands (Tropicana, Simply Orange, Minute Maid, Ocean Spray)
- • 100% juice labels without added sweeteners or artificial colors
- • Refrigerated juices that clearly state 'pasteurized' on the label
- • Freshly squeezed juice made at home from washed fruits
- • Limit to 8-12 oz per day to manage natural sugar intake
- • Juices fortified with folic acid or calcium for extra pregnancy benefits
✗ What to Avoid
- • Unpasteurized or raw juice, including most cold pressed juices from juice bars
- • Fresh squeezed juice from farmers markets or roadside stands without pasteurization
- • Aloe vera juice, which may stimulate uterine contractions
- • Juice drinks with high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient
- • Products containing artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, or Blue 1
- • Juice stored at room temperature that should be refrigerated
Most Common Ingredients in Juice Products
We analyzed 6,840 juice products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Juice
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 6,840 juice products we analyzed.
high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch and widely used in processed foods and beverages. Has been associated with placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, and metabolic programming of offspring in animal studies, and with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in epidemiological studies of humans.
Found in 459 of 6,840 products (7%)
red 40
CAUTION
Red 40 is a synthetic red food coloring. May affect neurobehavioral development based on animal studies at high doses.
Found in 193 of 6,840 products (3%)
sodium benzoate
CAUTION
Sodium benzoate is a food preservative in beverages and processed foods. Has shown birth defects in animal studies at high doses and may form benzene when combined with vitamin C.
Found in 119 of 6,840 products (2%)
yellow 5
CAUTION
Yellow 5 is a synthetic yellow food coloring. Has shown embryotoxic effects in recent animal studies at high doses.
Found in 86 of 6,840 products (1%)
blue 1
CAUTION
Blue 1 is a synthetic blue food coloring. Has limited human pregnancy data with possible neurobehavioral effects in animal studies.
Found in 57 of 6,840 products (1%)
fructose
CAUTION
Fructose is a simple sugar found naturally in fruits and added to many processed foods and beverages as high fructose corn syrup. May program offspring for metabolic dysfunction when consumed in excess during pregnancy, with animal studies showing effects on insulin resistance, blood pressure, and neurodevelopment.
Found in 43 of 6,840 products (1%)
high fructose corn syrup and concentrated juices orange
CAUTION
High fructose corn syrup and concentrated juices orange is a simple sugar found naturally in fruits and added to many processed foods and beverages as high fructose corn syrup. May program offspring for metabolic dysfunction when consumed in excess during pregnancy, with animal studies showing effects on insulin resistance, blood pressure, and neurodevelopment.
Found in 39 of 6,840 products (1%)
aloe vera juice
AVOID
Aloe vera juice is a plant used in skincare and supplements. May stimulate uterine contractions when ingested and should only be used topically during pregnancy.
Found in 25 of 6,840 products (0%)
Types of Juice
Juice Products We've Analyzed
We graded 6,840 juice products for pregnancy safety. 4,739 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Juice Products
We found 4,739 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Simply Orange 100% Pure Squeezed Orange Juice 11.5 Oz | Simply Orange |
| A | 100% Juice Smoothie | — |
| A | Orchard Apple Juice, Apple | Nantucket Nectars |
| A | Simply Orange Pulp Free | Simply Orange |
| A | 100% Orange Juice | Tropicana |
Your Questions Answered
Can pregnant women drink juice?
Yes, pregnant women can safely drink pasteurized juice. Most commercial juices sold in grocery stores are pasteurized, which kills harmful bacteria. Look for the word 'pasteurized' on the label, especially for refrigerated juices. Pasteurized orange juice, apple juice, cranberry juice, and grape juice are all safe choices that provide vitamins and hydration during pregnancy.
What are the risks of unpasteurized juice during pregnancy?
Unpasteurized juice can contain harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. During pregnancy, your immune system is suppressed, making you more susceptible to foodborne illness. Listeria infection is particularly dangerous as it can cross the placenta and cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious infection in newborns. This is why the FDA recommends pregnant women avoid all unpasteurized juices.
What juice can I take during pregnancy?
The healthiest juices during pregnancy include orange juice (high in vitamin C and often fortified with folic acid), cranberry juice (supports urinary tract health), apple juice, pomegranate juice (rich in antioxidants), and prune juice (helps with pregnancy constipation). Choose 100% juice options without added sugars. Tomato juice and beet juice also provide valuable nutrients like iron and folate.
Is cold pressed juice safe during pregnancy?
Most cold pressed juices are unpasteurized and should be avoided during pregnancy. The cold pressing process does not kill bacteria, and these juices are often sold at juice bars, farmers markets, or in the refrigerated section without pasteurization. If you want cold pressed juice, make it fresh at home using thoroughly washed produce and drink it immediately. Some brands now offer HPP (high pressure processed) cold pressed juice, which is safer.
How much juice should I drink while pregnant?
Limit juice intake to about 8-12 ounces per day during pregnancy. While juice provides vitamins, it also contains natural sugars without the fiber found in whole fruit. Excessive sugar intake can contribute to gestational diabetes and excess weight gain. For hydration, water is the best choice. Consider diluting juice with water or sparkling water to reduce sugar while still enjoying the flavor and nutrients.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains ingredients with established risks during pregnancy. Research shows these can cause birth defects, developmental harm, or serious maternal complications.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
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References
- https://thrivemarket.com/blog/heres a-convincing reason to avoid high fructose corn syrup during pregnancy
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1203063/full
- https://www.nature.com/articles/srep25091
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286322000225
- https://www.orlandohealth.com/content hub/why you should not consume high fructose corn syrup if you are pregnant/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7441786/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35123000/
- https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/32/12/2314/25900/Dietary Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522034220
- https://medicine.washu.edu/news/high fructose diet pregnancy may harm placenta restrict fetal growth/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6685737/
- https://www.cdc.gov/maternal infant health/pregnancy diabetes/index.html
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5491864/
- https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1113/JP274066
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4398903/
- https://www.obgproject.com/2023/01/02/acog releases updated guidance gestational diabetes/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.848983/full
- https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.07.02.600389v1.full text
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12620731/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10469680/
