Grape jelly – that sweet, sticky spread we slather on PB&J sandwiches – might not be as innocent as it seems.
Many popular brands pack shocking amounts of added sugars, artificial colors, and preservatives that can wreak havoc on your health.
Let’s unmask the purple pretenders lurking on store shelves that you might want to think twice about tossing in your shopping cart.
1. Smucker’s Concord Grape Jelly
Yikes! Despite being a household name, Smucker’s classic grape jelly contains a whopping 12g of sugar per tablespoon.
High fructose corn syrup leads the ingredient list, followed by corn syrup – a double sugar whammy! Your morning toast deserves better than this purple sugar bomb.
2. Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly
Ever wondered why Welch’s tastes so darn good? Mystery solved: each tablespoon delivers 13g of sugar!
Though they boast about using real fruit, that benefit drowns in a sea of high fructose corn syrup and artificial preservatives. Children consuming this regularly might as well be eating candy for breakfast.
3. Great Value Grape Jelly
Walmart’s budget-friendly option might save pennies but costs your health dearly. Loaded with corn syrup, artificial colors, and preservatives, this jelly is practically chemical soup.
What if I told you it contains Yellow 5, Red 40, AND Blue 1? That’s right – triple the artificial coloring to achieve that grape-like hue!
4. Kraft Grape Jelly
However tempting its smooth texture might be, Kraft’s grape jelly harbors a dark secret – sodium benzoate, a preservative linked to inflammation when combined with artificial colors.
Plus, it contains more high fructose corn syrup than actual grape juice concentrate! Parents beware: this common lunchbox staple might contribute to hyperactivity in kids.
5. Kroger Grape Jelly
Though wallet-friendly, Kroger’s store brand grape jelly packs a nutritional punch – and not the good kind! Its first two ingredients? High fructose corn syrup and corn syrup.
Curiously absent from the top of the list? Actual grapes! Instead, you’ll find “grape juice concentrate” buried beneath the sweeteners, making this essentially purple sugar goo.
6. Bama Grape Jelly
If artificial flavors make you cringe, steer clear of Bama’s grape jelly! Not only does it contain synthetic grape flavor, but it also relies on corn syrup as its primary ingredient.
Meanwhile, the preservative citric acid might trigger inflammatory responses in sensitive individuals. Roll Tide? More like roll away from this questionable concoction!
7. Trader Joe’s Organic Concord Grape Jelly
Surprise! Even TJ’s “healthier” option isn’t innocent. While organic, it still contains 11g of sugar per tablespoon from organic cane sugar and organic grape juice concentrate.
Don’t be fooled by the organic label – sugar is sugar, regardless of source. Your pancreas doesn’t care if those glucose molecules came from an organic farm!
8. Giant Eagle Grape Jelly
Holy sugar rush, Batman! Giant Eagle’s house brand grape jelly contains a staggering 13g of sugar per tablespoon – that’s more than 3 teaspoons of sugar in a single serving!
Where are the actual grapes? Far down the ingredient list, after corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. Your toast deserves a better purple partner than this impostor.
9. Publix Grape Jelly
Publix may be where shopping is a pleasure, but their grape jelly is where nutrition takes a vacation! With artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1, your body gets a chemical cocktail with each spread.
Though cheaper than premium brands, the health cost adds up. Why subject your family to unnecessary dyes when better options exist?
10. Albertsons Signature SELECT Grape Jelly
Oof! Albertsons’ house brand grape jelly contains more corn syrup than a soda factory. Their deceptive packaging showcases juicy grapes, yet actual grape juice concentrate appears fourth on the ingredient list.
Meanwhile, it contains pectin derived from GMO sources. Consumers thinking they’re making an economical choice might reconsider after examining what’s actually in this purple pretender.
11. Meijer Grape Jelly
Could Meijer’s grape jelly be any more processed? With high fructose corn syrup leading the charge and artificial flavor bringing up the rear, this spread barely qualifies as food.
Most alarming is the presence of sodium citrate and potassium sorbate – preservatives that extend shelf life to practically forever. Remember: if bacteria won’t eat it, should you?
12. Market Pantry Grape Jelly
Target’s Market Pantry grape jelly? More like Market Pantry grape-flavored sugar paste! Each tablespoon delivers a teeth-chattering 12g of sugar, primarily from corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup.
Furthermore, it contains the controversial preservative sodium benzoate. Moms and dads seeking affordable options should think twice before this bullseye brand misses the mark nutritionally.
13. IGA Grape Jelly
Heavens to Betsy! IGA’s grape jelly contains more chemicals than a high school science lab. Beyond the usual sugar suspects, it contains artificial flavors and the preservative potassium sorbate.
Interestingly, it lists “grape juice concentrate” after water in the ingredients, suggesting minimal actual fruit content. Why settle for grape-adjacent jelly when real fruit spreads exist?
14. Food Club Grape Jelly
Gasp! Food Club’s grape jelly might be budget-friendly, but your body pays the price. This purple perpetrator contains high fructose corn syrup as its primary ingredient, followed by—you guessed it—more corn syrup!
Additionally, it contains the preservative sodium benzoate, which can form benzene (a carcinogen) when combined with vitamin C. Skip this suspicious spread for your family’s health!
15. ShopRite Grape Jelly
What makes ShopRite’s grape jelly so alarmingly purple? Artificial colors Blue 1 and Red 40, both linked to behavioral issues in children.
Despite the bargain price, the health costs add up when you consider its high fructose corn syrup base and minimal grape content. Parents might want to reconsider smearing this chemical concoction on their kids’ PB&Js!