Thank you Fooducate reader Mark G. and family for testing out 4 flavors of Crofter’s Superfruit Spreads over the past few weeks.

Crofter’s is a small Canadian company focusing on jams, jellies, preserves and spread. Everything is organic.

Earlier this spring they introduced a new line of supefruit spreads, riding on the antioxidant halo associated with these fruits. There are 4 flavors to choose from: Europe, North America, South American, and Asia. Each comes with a different fruit blend.

Here’s what Mark had to say:

My wife, my two grade-school sons, and I tested these jams out on toast, waffles, in plain yogurt, and (of course) PB&J’s.

While I can’t say I’ve been on the lookout for a “fun, new way to get my daily antioxidants,” I did appreciate that Crofter’s new Organic Superfruit Spreads contain no artificial anything. And I had to google a couple of those so-called “superfruits” (and here I thought yumberry was a Capt’n Crunch flavor), but apparently they do all really exist!

The PB&J sandwiches was the least successful use of the jams. Their flavor was just too subtle to stand up to the domineering peanut butter. You just could not taste them, and at $4.99 a jar, you want to be able to taste them!

The other applications – especially the toast – allowed the jams’ flavors (and textures) to come out much more. It was surprising just how much flavor they had when they had the spotlight to themselves.

All four jams were tasty enough – definitely worthy of the extra cost for a Sunday morning breakfast treat. But they all suffered from a sameness between them. Despite not having any evil additives, all four jams have cherries, the cherry tartness overwhelms most of what the other fruits might offer.  Out of all those “superfruits,” I would say that the blueberries and black currents held their ground the best. The black currents (paired up in the “European Blend” with the uber-trendy pomegranate) also benefited from it’s unique texture.

These are tasty sour-cherry flavored jams, but I would have liked some of the more exotic superfruits to shine a little more (unless yumberries taste exactly like cherries? maybe? who knows?). I’m always on the lookout for natural jams and jellies for me and my family, but these are a little to subtle (and too expensive) for my sons’ lunchbags. That just means more for me and the Missus to put on our toast and in our yogurt.

What you need to know:
Here’s the ingredient list for the South America blend:
Organic Fruit (Organic morello cherry, organic red grape concentrate, organic passionfruit puree, organic maqui concentrate), organic fair trade cane sugar, natural fruit pectin, ascorbic acid, citric acid.

Maqui berry is a “superfruit” from Patagonia (the chilly southern part of Argentina). Some claim it is much more potent than the revered acai berry from an antioxidant perspective.

While there are 4 fruits mentioned in the list, only the cherries come in their natural form. The other 3 are purees and concentrates, which means they’ve lost many of their health benefits by oxidation (exposure to air).

Ascorbic acid is just vitamin C.

Citric acid is a natural preservative that is used to add an acidic, sour taste to foods and beverages. Although it is naturally found in citrus fruit (oranges, lemons), industry has a found a cheaper way to manufacture it, using molds.

Nutrition label:
A serving is one tablespoon. it contains 30 calories, no fat, and 7 grams of sugar. The addition of ascorbic acid bumps up the vitamin C to 50% of the daily requirements. Unlike the fruits in their original form, these jams do not contain fiber.

What to do at the supermarket:

If you’re going to buy a jam, Crofter’s is about as nutritious as it gets. Not that jams are a major source of nutrition. But at least there are no artificial anythings. Enjoy on whole wheat toast of course.

Disclosure: Ah, the perks of food blogging…Crofter’s PR firm contacted us and offered to send  evaluation samples. We had them sent to a family of volunteer testers. We did not pay for the samples. We were not paid to post this blog nor were we instructed in any which way regarding its content. In fact, we forewarned the manufacturer that we are skeptical and scathing of most processed products available at the supermarket.

If you would like to have something new and possibly tasty sent to your house, why not become a Fooducate Product Tester? Just comment below or shoot us an email: blog [at] fooducate [dot] com.

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flickr photo: matski_98

1. It has many names – Tartrazine, E102 , FD&C Yellow 5, C.I. 19140, or just plain Yellow 5.

2. Yellow #5 is a synthetic, water soluble, lemon yellow dye used as a food coloring.

3. A partial list of foods including Yellow #5: cotton candy, soft drinks, energy drinks, instant puddings, flavored tortilla chips such as Doritos, breakfast cereals, cake mixes, pastries, pudding powders, soups, sauces, flavored rices such as paella,  powdered drink mixes, sports drinks, ice cream, ice pops, candy, chewing gum, marzipan, jam, jelly, gelatins, marmalade, mustard, horseradish, yogurt, noodles, and pickles.

4. Yellow #5 is one of the cheapest synthetic colors available, and sold all over the world.

5. The more expensive, natural food colorings are turmeric (a spice) , annatto (tropical tree derivative), betacarotene (think carrots’ orange pigments), or malt color.

6. Various levels of allergic reactions and intolerance reactions have been caused by this food coloring, especially among asthmatics and people with aspirin intolerance.

7. Some studies have linked various immunologic responses to tartrazine ingestion, including anxiety, migraines, clinical depression, blurred vision, itching, general weakness, heatwaves, feeling of suffocation, purple skin patches, and sleep disturbance.

8. Despite mounting evidence, The FDA considers Yellow #5 a safe food coloring. Let it be noted that, in the past, the FDA banned the use of other food colorings. This, after research showed them to be carcinogenic.

9. A major study published in the UK in 2007 linked food colorings with hyperactive behavior in children. As a result, the FSA (UK’s FDA) has called manufacturers to voluntarily ban food colorings in their products. Most companies are obliging,  due to consumer pressure and FSA encouragement.

10. Consumer groups in the US, especially the Center for Science in the Public Interest, have called food colorings, and especially Yellow #5, the “Secret Shame” of Food Industry and Regulators. A ban from all foods is their request.

11. Yellow #5 may also be also found in vitamins, antacids, soaps, cosmetics, shampoos, moisturizers, and crayons.

12. Organic foods may also contain Yellow #5 or other food colorings, because the USDA considers a processed food organic if it as at least 95% organic by weight. Since food colorings are used in tiny amounts, a bran muffin with a touch of artificial yellow is still considered organic.

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