SunnyD Isn't Orange Juice. Here's Why

Picture it — you come home from school in 1992, grab a snack, flip the TV to Nickelodeon, and settle in for a relaxing afternoon. Life is great, even if you have to sit through commercials while you watch your favorite sitcoms and cartoons.

If you can easily envision this scene, you can probably also picture the drink you are holding — bright orange, sweet, citrusy flavored SunnyD, also known as Sunny Delight. This drink was first introduced in the United States in 1964, according to SunnyD, and was originally sold as a powdered drink mix, but it was later reformulated and rebranded as a ready-to-drink juice in 1989, which is what helped it take off. In the 1990s, SunnyD became a very popular beverage among children and teenagers, and a cartoon mascot named "Sunny" helped to market it. 

While its popularity seemed to die off in the early 2000s, SunnyD is still being made, but one question still remains. Is SunnyD actually orange juice?

As of 2021, SunnyD is said to be owned by Sunny Delight Beverages Co, per the SunnyD Website, and the company has been working on revamping the brand and the product. The focus is on creating a beverage with no high fructose corn syrup, while still maintaining its classic orange taste. 

Back in 2014, the company started marketing the drink as an alternative to soda and energy drinks, per PR Newswire. SunnyD even added new flavors to its lineup of drinks in 2019, like orange strawberry, orange mango, blue raspberry, and fruit punch.

While the classic SunnyD is an orange-flavored drink, it is not 100% real orange juice. In fact, it's not even mostly juice. According to Mental Floss, it's a mixture of water, high fructose corn syrup, and a small amount of orange juice concentrate, as well as other flavors, vitamins, and minerals. According to the label of the product, found on the SunnyD website, the drink contains only 5% juice.

It's important to note that SunnyD does not have the same nutritional value as real orange juice, even if it does offer a similar taste. Real orange juice is a good source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C and potassium, and it's also a natural source of fiber, per WebMD. SunnyD, on the other hand, has none of that and it's high in added sugar and calories. It even takes a "worst" on our list of best and worst juice drinks for kids. Yikes.

If you are looking for a good and simple source of vitamins and minerals, it's better to opt for a glass of real orange juice or any other juice that clearly states that it's 100% juice. It's even better if you eat an actual orange or apple. But if you have a hankering for a nostalgic drink, SunnyD is still around in its original flavor. All the 90s kids can enjoy a glass of that tangy, bright orange drink, or even use it in some fun recipes, like SunnyD smoothies, gelatin snacks, and as a glaze for meats.