A. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates labels on foods including terms used on juice labels. Beverages that contain fruit or vegetable juice must declare the percentage of pure juice computed on a volume basis.

• "100 percent juice" — These juices contain only juice — they are not diluted with water and no sweeteners have been added. Only beverages that are 100 percent juice may be called "juice." The terms "cocktail," "punch," "drink," or "beverage" signify a diluted juice which often may have added sweeteners.

• "From Concentrate" — These juices have most of the water, fruit oils and essences removed by heat, which also pasteurizes the juice. The concentrate is then frozen. When reconstituted, filtered water, the oils and essences are added back. It is considered 100 percent juice if the water added does not exceed or fall short of what is considered standard for the juice. Juice from concentrate also may be labeled with terms such as "from concentrate" or "reconstituted."

• "Not From Concentrate" — This is a fresh juice directly squeezed from the fruit. It is 100 percent juice if no water or sweetener has been added.

It is important to note that fresh squeezed juice (not from concentrate) may — or may not — be pasteurized or treated to eliminate harmful bacteria. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition found in a preliminary study that unpasteurized juices accounted for 76 percent of food-borne illnesses reported between 1993 and 1996. As of 1998, the FDA required all fresh (unpasteurized) juices carry this label:

WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and, therefore, may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.