North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

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

Sarah from Edmonton, AB, said, "I found some Cloudberry jam at Ikea and, 
aside from being too sweet like almost all commercial 
jams...................."


   Are your grocery store jellies and jams too sweet?  It is the law here 
in the United States and, I suspect, in Canada too.  The law states that 
jelly, jam and preserves must contain 65 brix (% solids, including sugar). 
If they contain less than that it is illegal to use the words "Jelly", "Jam" 
or "Preserves."  Use of those words in a product less than 65 brix is 
considered fraud and is punishable as such.  These laws apply only to 
products that are purchased for resale.  These are part of the consumer 
protection laws.
   Sugar is a preservative.  If bacteria were to be introduced into these 
products, the bacteria would be killed via osmosis; this is why we have the 
law(s).
   Fruit spreads that do not meet the above criteria must use other 
terminology (eg. "Spread") and may be preserved in other ways.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
For jams, jellies, syrups and more:
www.jellygal.com
1-877-265-6856 (Toll Free)
1-218-831-7018 (My Cell)