Cranberry +health is aimed for use in hospitals, managed-care facilities, and retirement homes across the US and is available through major foodservice distributors. With 120 milligrams of proanthocyanidins (PACs)1, the cranberry juice drink contains the highest concentration of cranberry compounds per 8-ounce serving than other Ocean Spray products.
“Cranberry +health may be part of a more holistic solution to help lower healthcare costs associated with UTIs and CAUTIs (catheter-induced urinary tract infections), by reducing the occurrence of those infections,” Christina Khoo, Ph.D., director of global health sciences and regulatory affairs at Ocean Spray, said.
Nutritional approach to treating UTIs
“New research shows that the cranberries can be a nutritional approach to reducing symptomatic UTIs, and as a result, may be a useful strategy to decrease the use of antibiotics,” Michael Curran, director of Away-from-Home for Ocean Spray, told BeverageDaily.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CAUTIs are the number one hospital-acquired infection, costing the US healthcare system $450m annually. They affect over 560,000 patients and are responsible for 13,000 deaths a year. With nearly 25% of hospitalized patients receiving urinary catheters during their hospital stay, CAUTIs are a growing concern for healthcare providers.
Ocean Spray references a clinical study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), in which the Cranberry +health formula was shown to reduce symptomatic UTIs by nearly 40% in women who drank eight ounces per day.
“From our discussions, operators see a need for a nutritional approach to healthcare as a preventative measure, rather than solely addressing infections after they occur,” added Curran.
Building on its hospital presence
Ocean Spray currently has a 60% market share of the US cranberry juice market, and has had a presence in hospitals for many years. Within the company’s “Away-from-Home” business, hospitals and healthcare facilities are its largest target audience.
“Ocean Spray has been a top brand in patient feeding for over two decades. We have great relationships in this space and over the last few years have seen a need for more of a nutritional approach to healthcare,” Curran said.
“We are on thousands of patients’ trays every day and are uniquely positioned to bring the benefits of the cranberry to the healthcare segment.”