Dole Mandarin Oranges in 100% Fruit Juice: Labelgrade C+ (68/100)
C+ 68 / 100 — Very low saturated fat, notable sugar load, and very low sodium.
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Dole Mandarin Oranges In 100% Fruit Juice delivers 1g of protein and 90.3 calories per 0.5 cup (USDA FDC 2672059). Per 100g that’s 0.8g of protein; per oz, 0.2g. The Labelgrade is C+ (68 / 100): Very low saturated fat, notable sugar load, and very low sodium.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | D | 51 / 100 | 0.8g per 100g — below the high-protein bar; not the right product for protein hunting |
| Ingredient quality | B | 78 / 100 | 7 ingredients, recognizable, no significant additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0g saturated fat — perfect |
| Sodium load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 4.88mg per serving (1mg per oz) — low |
| Sugar load | F | 20 / 100 | 20g sugar; USDA omits the added-sugar line, but the ingredients list a sweetener — scored as added, not naturally-occurring |
| Fiber | F | 36 / 100 | 0.976g per serving — modest fiber contribution |
| Overall | C+ | 68 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 25% · ingredients 22% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 12% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Per 100 g | Per oz | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dole Mandarin Oranges In 100% Fruit Juice (this product) | 1g | 0.8g | 0.2g | 90.3 |
| Dole Packaged Foods Llc Pineapple Chunks In 100% Pineapple Juice | 1g | 0.8g | 0.2g | 59.8 |
| Del Monte Foods Inc. Del Monte, Sliced Peaches In Heavy Syrup | 0g | 0g | 0g | 99.8 |
| Del Monte Fruit Cocktail In Extra Light Syrup, Lite | 0g | 0g | 0g | 59.5 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | — | 31g | 8.8g | ~165 |
”In 100% juice” but still the sweetest in the group
Here’s the wrinkle that surprises people: this can does everything right with its packing liquid — 100% fruit juice, no syrup, no added sugar, almost no sodium — and still grades a step below the lite-syrup pears and fruit cocktail. The reason isn’t a flaw in how it’s made. It’s the fruit and the juice it sits in.
Mandarin segments are naturally sweet, and Dole packs them in white grape juice from concentrate, which is essentially concentrated fruit sugar. Stack the oranges’ own sugar on top of the grape juice and you get 20g of sugar and 90 calories per 1/2 cup — versus 60 calories for the lite pears. So “in juice” is genuinely a better format than syrup, but it doesn’t guarantee a lower number when the fruit and the juice are both sweet. The lesson for label-reading: “no added sugar” tells you what the maker didn’t put in; the sugar grams tell you what’s actually there. Check both.
Real vitamin C, real sugar — portion accordingly
The upside is worth saying plainly: mandarins are a strong source of vitamin C, and this can also carries a little calcium and potassium. Canning doesn’t wipe those out, so you’re getting real nutrition, not empty calories. As a grab-and-eat fruit cup for a lunchbox or a quick snack, it does its job.
The honest counterweight is the sugar. At 20g a serving with no protein to slow it down, these eat more like a sweet treat than a vegetable-style “anytime” food — and the natural-vs-added distinction doesn’t change how your body handles the carbohydrate once it’s in. Two moves keep it sensible: keep the portion to the 1/2-cup serving rather than tipping in half the can, and drain the juice so you eat the fruit instead of drinking the sugar around it. Done that way, mandarin oranges stay a healthy choice; eaten by the canful, undrained, they’re closer to dessert.
Scope
This page covers Dole Mandarin Oranges In 100% Fruit Juice (23.5 oz/665 g), UPC 038900030995, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 2672059. Dole sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
MANDARIN ORANGES, WHITE GRAPE JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, WHITE GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE), LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (WATER, LEMON JUICE CONCENTRATE), ASCORBIC ACID (TO PROMOTE COLOR RETENTION), AND CITRIC ACID.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 0.5 cup
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (0.5 cup) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 90.3 |
| Protein | 1g |
| Total Fat | 0g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 22g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.976g |
| Total Sugars | 20g |
| Sodium | 4.88mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Calcium | 40.3mg |
| Iron | 0mg |
| Potassium | 160mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Mandarin Oranges In 100% Fruit Juice (23.5 oz/665 g) · UPC 038900030995. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains no listed animal products
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
Are canned mandarin oranges healthy?
Yes — they keep most of fresh mandarins' vitamin C and fiber, and this Dole pack is in 100% fruit juice with no added sugar (the sweetness comes from the oranges and a little grape juice). The catch is that mandarins packed in fruit juice are simply a sweet food: 20g of sugar per 1/2 cup. Healthy, but treat it as fruit, not a free snack.
Why does this product score C+ (68/100)?
It's packed the right way — in 100% juice, no syrup, near-zero sodium, no saturated fat — yet it lands a notch below the in-juice pineapple and the lite-syrup cans. The reason is sugar: at 20g per 1/2 cup it's the sweetest fruit in this group, and the grape-juice pack adds to the orange's own sugars. Add the usual no-protein ceiling that all fruit shares, and the sugar load pulls the overall score down to C+.
It's in 100% juice and has no added sugar — so why isn't the grade higher?
Because 'no added sugar' doesn't mean 'low sugar.' These oranges sit in fruit juice (mandarin plus white grape juice from concentrate), and juice is concentrated fruit sugar. The result is 20g of sugar and 90 calories per 1/2 cup — higher than the lite-syrup pears or fruit cocktail, which are 60 calories. The packing liquid here is clean; it's just sweet. Honest natural sugar is still sugar once you eat it.
How big is a serving, and should I drain the juice?
A serving is 1/2 cup (122g). Draining helps more here than you'd think: a real share of the 20g of sugar is dissolved in the surrounding grape-and-orange juice, not locked in the segments. Tip off the liquid and you cut calories and sugar while keeping the fruit's vitamin C and fiber. If you like the juice, save just a spoonful.
Is there a better canned-fruit pick?
If sugar is your priority, a less-sweet fruit packed in water or 100% juice — and drained — beats these mandarins. The lite-syrup pears and the in-juice pineapple on this site both come in lower per serving. Mandarins are a fine choice for the vitamin C and convenience; just portion them and drain the juice.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-05, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 2672059. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.