Orange juice, a breakfast staple enjoyed worldwide, is known for its refreshing taste and vitamin C content. But a surprising question sometimes pops up: does orange juice contain alcohol? The short answer is that freshly squeezed or commercially produced orange juice, under normal circumstances, does not contain a significant amount of alcohol . However, there's a bit more to the story regarding fermentation and the science behind it. Let's delve deeper! The Science of Alcohol in Fruits Fruits, including oranges, naturally contain sugars like fructose and glucose. These sugars can be converted into alcohol (ethanol) through a process called fermentation. This process involves yeast, a type of fungus, consuming the sugars and releasing alcohol and carbon dioxide as byproducts. So, Why Isn't There Alcohol in Your Orange Juice? Commercially produced orange juice typically undergoes pasteurization, a heat treatment that destroys harmful bacteria and enzymes. This process also...