North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>]

   A point of information that most people probably don't know concerns the 
legal use of the words "jam," "jelly" or "preserves."  The Federal 
Government has definitions for jams, jellies and preserves and using these 
name descriptions constitutes fraud unless they contain 65% sugar and have a 
pH of less than 4.2.  If these items contain less than the specified 
amounts, they must be called something else.
   One might think the government is sticking its nose in where it doesn't 
belong but, actually, this is consumer protection because if the sugar 
content is 65% (or more) and the pH is 4.2 (or lower), harmful pathogens 
cannot grow in them.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]