Snapple, now New York City's official beverage, has replaced carbonated sodas in the City's public schools' vending machines as a healthier, all-juice alternative. The problem with the new Snapple 100% Juiced all-juice blends, say critics, is that they actually contain more sugar and calories than soda. "If anything, we should have cold water in our schools," said Toni Liquori, an adjunct associate professor of nutrition education. "Water is a right," she said, and she cannot understand why school children are being asked to pay for it. "New York City is supposed to have the best water and we're asking them to pay $1 for it?"

An 11.5-ounce container of the new Snapple has 160 or 170 calories and the equivalent of about 40 grams of sugar, while a 12-ounce Coca-Cola has 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar. The main ingredients in the drinks, besides water, are concentrates of apple, grape or pear, three of the least nutritious fruits and the least expensive concentrates.

The article, entitled "The Snapple Deal: How Sweet It Is" appeared in the October 2 edition of Foster's Citizen.

Published Monday, Oct. 6, 2003