Consumers encouraged to eye up papaya juice drink

Rubicon has launched into the functional foods market with its Papaya Exotic juice drink, which contains lutein - a phytochemical found naturally in papayas.

Lutein helps protect the eyes and research suggests it can reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration - a major cause of blindness, claims the firm. "Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like fruit such as papaya, are just as important for keeping your sight," it says. The drink is endorsed by the Eye Care trust - an independent, non-profit making body that provides information on all eye-related issues.

Independent nutritionist Fiona Hunter says: "All fruit and vegetables are undeniably healthy but some, like the papaya, earn superfood status because of the high levels of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals they possess. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C and magnesium as well as the phytochemicals lutein, betacryptoxanthin and beta carotene.

"In addition to providing protection against certain types of cancer, the phytochemicals in papayas have been known to bring about significant improvement in eye and skin disorders and help to keep the heart healthy."

Rubicon Papaya Exotic Juice Drink contains no crystalline sugar.