Fruit and vegetable preserves
Polaner Seedless Blackberry Preserves
13.5 oz
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 28
Polaner Seedless Blackberry Preserves scores 28 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Red 40: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Regulatory
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better jams, jellies and fruit spreads
-
Organic Reduced Sugar Strawberry Preserves Trader Joe's · 15.2 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 72 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
All Fruit Spreadable Fruit Seedless Blackberry Polaner · 10 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 61 out of 100 , 33 points higher -
Old Fashion Fredericksburg Peach Preserves Fischer & Wieser · 40 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 65 out of 100 , 37 points higher -
Blackberry preserves Sprouts No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 55 out of 100 , 27 points higher -
Premium Preserves Fig Kitchen & Love · 12.3 oz/350 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 63 out of 100 , 35 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Seedless Blackberry Preserves
Ingredients
- Red 40 minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Blue 1 minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Fiber 17.6 g / 100 g plus 4 points
100 − 72 = 28
Can’t score above 79. Contains Red 40, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 59 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29.4 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 17.6 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Serving: 1 tbsp (17 g)
Ingredients
- WATER
- BLACKBERRIES
- MALTODEXTRIN
- POLYDEXTROSE
- CITRIC ACID
- FRUIT PECTIN
- LOCUST BEAN GUM
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- POTASSIUM SORBATE AND SODIUM BENZOATE (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS)
- CALCIUM CHLORIDE
- RED #40 (high concern)
- BLUE #1 (moderate concern)
- NOT IN REGULAR PRESERVES
- ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SUGAR (high concern)
Label text, as published
WATER*, BLACKBERRIES, MALTODEXTRIN*, POLYDEXTROSE*, CITRIC ACID, FRUIT PECTIN, LOCUST BEAN GUM*, NATURAL FLAVOR*, SUCRALOSE*, POTASSIUM SORBATE AND SODIUM BENZOATE (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS), CALCIUM CHLORIDE*, RED #40*, BLUE #1*, *NOT IN REGULAR PRESERVES, ADDS A TRIVIAL AMOUNT OF SUGAR
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”
fda.gov
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”
fda.gov
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
who.int
-
HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
-
“Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”
doi.org