There are many reasons why food manufacturers use food dyes.
For example, dyes can help maintain the consistency of a product’s color, even when the natural color may fade or change due to processing or storage. They can also be used to make a product more appealing to consumers by enhancing its visual appeal.
There are numerous foods and beverages that contain natural and artificial dyes. However, is grape jelly one of those food items that typical has dye in it?
This article will answer that question by reviewing the ingredients of popular grape jelly products. Let’s get into what you need to know about dyes being in grape jelly.
Is There Dye in Grape Jelly?
The majority of grape jelly products do not contain any dye at all. Instead, the natural color from the grapes is what gives grape jelly its distinctive purple color.
Many grape jelly manufacturers take pride in using natural ingredients and avoid using synthetic dyes in their products. They know that many consumers prefer products that are free from artificial colors and flavors.
You can see how uncommon it is for store-bought grape jelly to contain dye by reviewing the ingredients of the selection of grape jelly products below. All but one that we randomly reviewed had no dye.
| Grape Jelly Product | Dye (Yes or No)? | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Bonne Maman – Grape Jelly | No | Grape (Juice And Concentrated Juice), Sugar, Cane Sugar, Concentrated Lemon Juice, Fruit Pectin. |
| Great Value – Grape Jelly | No | Concord Grapes, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate. |
| Greenwise -Organic Grape | No | Organic Sugar, Organic Concord Grape Juice, Pectin, Citric Acid. |
| Kroger – Grape Jelly | No | Grape Juice, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate. |
| O Organics – Concord Grape Fruit Spread | No | Organic Concord Grape Puree from Concentrate (Water, Organic Concord Grape Puree Concentrate, Organic Cane Suger, Fruit Pectin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Citric Acid. |
| Pampa – Grape Fruit Spread | Yes | Sugar, Water, Grape Pulp, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Artificial Flavor, Sodium Benzoate, Caramel Color, Distilled Monoglyceride, Red 40, Blue 1. |
| Polaner – Concord Grape | No | Juice Concentrates (Pear, Grape, Pineapple), Concord Grape Puree Concentrate (Water, Concord Grape Juice, Concord Grapes), Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid. |
| Publix – Concord Grape | No | Concord Grape Juice, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Pectin, Citric Acid. |
| Santa Cruz – Organic Concord Grape | No | Organic Concord Grape Juice, Organic Sugar, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid. |
| Signature Select – Concord Grape | No | Concord Grapes, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or Less of: Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate. |
| Simple Truth Organic – Concord Grape | No | Organic Concord Grapes, Organic Cane Sugar, Water, Pectin, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid. |
| Smucker’s – Concord Grape | No | Concord Grape Juice, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate. |
| Welch’s – Concord Grape | No | Concord Grapes, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Fruit Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate. |
If you are concerned about the presence of food dyes in your grape jelly, there are many options available that do not contain any artificial colors as shown above. It’s worth noting that there are undoubtedly many more options than those highlighted here.
However, we strongly suggest verifying that any grape jelly you intend to consume is free of dyes by reviewing the ingredient list. This includes examining the ingredients on the product labels for the products listed above since ingredient formulations are subject to change at any time.
Final Thoughts
While some grape jelly products do contain food dye, the majority of grape jelly does not have dye. It is important to read the label carefully and look for products that use natural ingredients if you are concerned about the presence of synthetic dyes in your food.
