With a Name Like Smucker’s

Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spreads – More Fruit, Less Sugar

When it comes to jams, preserves and fruit spreads, we always look for labels that list fruit first before sugar. By their very nature these condiments will be sweet enough and we like more of the fruit flavor to enjoy.

That said, since we are eating low FODMAP we have to steer clear of fruit-juice sweetened jams as they often contain high FODMAP ingredients like apple or pear juice or use high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

We have become huge fans of Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spreads at the Test Kitchen, so we wanted to share the love. If you are familiar with the Smucker’s brand, you know that their motto is, “With a Name Like Smucker’s, It’s Got To Be Good”.

Kind of funny, kind of memorable. I can still hear the voice-over announcer in my mind from television commercials from long ago. I can’t even remember the first time I heard it. I spent summers at my Nana’s in South Dartmouth, MA and she made me cream cheese and jelly sandwiches for lunch almost everyday, always with Smucker’s raspberry jam.

There are brands that have been with us since childhood and when I was first told that I had to eat low FODMAP one of my first thoughts was, what can I continue to eat? And part of that question was aimed at prepared and packaged foods.

Some Jam is Low FODMAP

With a convenient tool like the Monash University Smartphone App it is very easy to see that strawberries can be enjoyed. They are a Green Light food and no FODMAPs have been detected in them.

But what about strawberry jam? It too is actually listed in the app in amounts of 2 Australian tablespoons (40 g), but what about actually going to the supermarket and choosing the right jam product?

Read Those Labels

If you are a label reader you probably know that the jellies and jams in the supermarket are often packed with ingredients that we do not want, particularly HFCS (high fructose corn syrup).

It has long been an ingredient that we wanted to steer clear of, even before this diet, but it is particularly troublesome for FODMAPers. And many years ago we converted to looking for jams that list fruit first on the label.

Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spreads

Enter Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spreads. This line of fruit spreads not only uses pure sugar (low FODMAP) to sweeten, with no HFCS in site, but fruit is the first ingredient!

These are completely low FODMAP compliant and we absolutely love them. Here are some features:

• • Clean ingredients
  • Easy to find
  • Not too pricey
  • Great texture and flavor
  • No GMOs
  • No preservatives
  • Low FODMAP ingredients
  • Comes in many low FODMAP flavors: Strawberry and Orange Marmalade and also Concord Grape and Raspberry, which you might like to try (more on this below)
  • The Strawberry and Raspberry are also available in a squeeze bottle with the same ingredients (see image below). Nothing extra is added to make them squeezable – they’re great for kids!

By the way, you might be wondering why it is called a “fruit spread” and not a jam or preserve. That’s because, in one of those crazy FDA rules, in order to be a jam the product would have to contain more sugar! So don’t be put off by the wording; it’s a good thing.

Our Take on Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spreads

If you are looking for a really tasty fruit spread for your sandwiches, toast or otherwise, we highly recommend this line of jams. We do not recommend the blackberry or cherry or flavors while following a low FODMAP diet. Marmalade and strawberry jams are listed as approved by Monash in 2 Australian tablespoon (40 g) amounts and we suggest that you start there.

We have done very well with the grape and raspberry flavors as well. As always, listen to your dietitian and your body, but you might want to consider trying these flavors.

Check out these recipes featuring this product: FODMAP IT!™ PB & J Cream Cheese Brownies, English Muffins with Cream Cheese, Jam & Bacon, our Low FODMAP Gluten-Free Rugelach, and our Low FODMAP Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies.

Where to Buy: Currently available through Amazon and other outlets

Price at Time of Review: Average retail price around $3.

Have you tried this product? Let us know what you think in the comments below!