WHEN PRODUCING BEVERAGES IN SOUTH AFRICA, ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SUGAR IS ALLOWED TO BE ADDED. TOTAL SUGARS HAVE TO BE LESS THAN 6%. I.E. ALL SUGAR IN RECIPE - SUGAR, JUICE SUGAR, MILK SUGAR (IF ANY MILK POWDER IS USED).

IF A PRODUCER DOESN'T COMPLY WITH THE RULE, A HEFTY FINE WILL BE GIVEN.

GENERALLY A 2 - 2.5 % SUGAR ADDITION IS FINE IN THE RECIPE WITH AROUND A 0.8 % JUICE CONCENTRATE (0.65 %) ADDITION - THIS WILL ADD UP TO AROUND 4 - 4.5 % BRIX, WHICH LEAVES PRODUCER WELL BELOW THE PERCENTAGE ALLOWED. THE PRODUCER CAN THAN ADD ARTIFICIAL SWEETENER, VISCO 8 - 12, SWEETEX SUGAR SYRUP FOR THE REST OF THE SWEETNESS NEEDED.

IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE REGULATION OF SUGAR CONTENT IN JUICES IS GUIDED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUREAU OF STANDARDS (SABS) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. HERE ARE SOME KEY POINTS:

1. FRUIT JUICE: PURE FRUIT JUICE IN SOUTH AFRICA SHOUD NOT HAVE ADDED SUGARS. THE SUGAR CONTENT SHOULD ONLY COME  FROM THE NATURAL SUGARS PRESENT IN THE FRUIT ITSELF.

2. FRUIT DRNKS AND NECTAR: PRODUCTS LABELLED AS 'FRUIT DRINKS' OR 'FRUIT NECTARS' CAN HAVE ADDED SUGARS. THESE BEVERAGES OFTEN CONTAIN LESS FRUIT JUICE AND MAY INCLUDE ADDED SWEETENERS TO ENHANCE FLAVOUR.

3. NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: SOUTH AFRICAN REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT ALL BEVERAGES, INCLUDING JUICES, MUST LIST THEIR NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PACKAGING. THIS INCLUDES THE TOTAL SUGAR CONTENT, WHICH HELPS CONSUMERS MAKE INFORMED CHOICES.

4. LABELLING: PRODUCRS MUST ADHERE TO SPECIFIC LABELLING REQUIREMENTS TO CLEARLY STATE IF SUGARS HAVE BEEN ADDED. THIS INCLUDES DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN '100 % JUICE' AND OTHER TYPES OF JUICE-BASED BEVERAGES THAT MAY CONTAIN ADDED SUGARS OR OTHER INGREDIENTS.

FOR THE MOST ACCURATE AND CURRENT INFORMATION, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO CONSULT THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUREAU OF STANDARDS (SABS) OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDELINES DIRECTLY, AS REGULATIONS CAN BE UPDATED.