Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is produced by the Welch’s Company, a family-farming owned co-op in North America. According to their website, their Concord grape jelly is America’s #1 grape jelly. You’ll have to be the judge of that, but what if you are unsure you can even eat Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly because you follow vegan guidelines for your food choices?
Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is vegan. It is a sweet treat any vegan can enjoy with their equally vegan-friendly peanut butter! There are no ingredients in the Concord grape jelly which would make it non-vegan. Other good alternatives to Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly are Good Good Concord Grape Jelly and Crofters Organic Concord Grape Premium Spread.
Before we answer these questions, let’s take a look at the ingredients and nutritional information.
Contents
Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly Nutrition Information
Ingredients:
- Concord Grapes
- Corn Syrup
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Pectin
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
Nutrition Information (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 50
- Total fat: 0 grams
- Sodium: 0 grams
- Total carbohydrates: 13 grams
- Total sugars: 10 grams
- Includes 9 grams Added Sugars
- Protein: 0 grams
- Not a significant source of Trans Fat, Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, Dietary Fiber, Vitamin D, Calcium, Iron, Potassium.
Is Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly Healthy?
Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is very high in sugar. Eaten in moderation, this product can be well tolerated and not cause negative health benefits. After all, what else goes better with peanut butter on a sandwich?
But, if you have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, you will want to be very careful in how much grape jelly, or jam, you consume, as its high sugar content can be detrimental to your blood glucose levels.
Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is not unhealthy for you, but it’s not necessarily healthy either. Let’s take a closer look at those ingredients to see why.
Concord Grapes
The first known use of the Concord grape in America was in 1869, by Dr. Thomas Branwell. The use of this particular grape started the lucrative grape juice business of today. Concord grape jelly, no matter which brand, is now considered the most popular jelly in the states.
Concord grapes are very distinctive. Their skins are dark and purple and their seeds are crunchy. The skin is where most of the health-promoting nutrients can be found. It is a fruit that is only grown in certain regions by Welch’s farmers, and can only be harvested during a few short weeks in the fall.
The health benefits of Concord grapes include:
- Improved cardiovascular health due to polyphenols
- Decrease in free radicals because of compounds present
- Improved cognitive function, because of the benefits for cardiovascular health
- Reduce inflammation and boost to the immune system from the antioxidants
But does the processing of the Concord grapes in order to make Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly affect the nutritional value of the grapes?
How Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is Made
The jelly is made by putting the fruit together with sugar and heating it up to a high temperature. Jelly is made with just fruit juice, so the healthier parts of the Concord grape–the pulp and skin–are not part of the finished product.
The commercial production of jelly also means that the manufacturers are using high fructose corn syrup instead of granulated sugar, because it costs less. Companies like Welch’s will also include additives, like pectin and citric acid to make sure the mixture sets and balances the sweet and sharpness of the grapes together effectively.
Which brings us to our next ingredient…
Corn Syrup and High Fructose Corn Syrup
Corn syrup can be found in so many foods, from yogurt to salad dressing, to breads and canned fruits, granola bars and coffee creamers. Because it is found in many different foods, you could unknowingly be putting a high amount of fructose in your daily diet if you consume a lot of these different foods.
It’s the fructose in the corn syrup products which cause the issues. The fructose has to be converted into glucose within your body, before it can be used as fuel, or energy. Glucose is the basic form of carbs and it is used by every cell in your body. The process your body goes through for this conversion is what can lead to fatty liver disease, increase your risk for obesity, and put you at a high risk for developing diabetes.
Pectin, Citric Acid, & Sodium Citrate
Pectin is a polysaccharide starch and it’s found in fruits and vegetables. When it’s used as an additive in food production, it is a gelling agent. Pectin comes entirely from plants, unlike gelatin, which is sourced from animals. This is a vegan-friendly ingredient found in Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly.
Citric acid is naturally found in citrus foods, but when it is used as an additive in the food manufacturing process, it has been chemically produced. Adding this to foods, like Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly, help to preserve its shelf life and enhance its flavor. There have been some studies which have linked chemically-produced citric acid to joint pain and swelling, and stomach pain. While natural citric acid itself can be considered vegan friendly, the processes used to make it can raise some concerns.
Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. It’s added to foods as a preservative and reduces the acidity of some foods. Used as a raw material, it is not derived from animal sources, so it is also a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Other Nutritional Facts about Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly
Looking at the nutritional label on a bottle of Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly you’ll notice that it is not a significant source of dietary fiber or potassium. The amount of these vitamins and minerals in 1 cup of non-processed Concord grapes is:
- 1 gram dietary fiber
- 175 mg potassium
This may not seem like a lot, but the health benefits of the Concord grape is diminished by the high temperatures it is heated to during processing, and so most of the health benefits we talked about earlier in this article are non-existent in the jelly you buy off the grocer’s shelf.
Are There Healthier Alternatives to Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly?
Good Good Concord Grape Jelly
From Iceland, the Good Good Concord Grape Jelly is a good alternative to Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly. Check out its list of ingredients:
- Concord grape juice concentrate
- Water
- Sweetener (erythritol, stevia extract)
- Gelling agents (pectin)
- Acid (citric acid)
- Concord Grape Aroma (natural flavor)
- Preservative (potassium sorbate)
Nutrition Information (per 1 tablespoon):
- 5 calories
- 6 grams of fat
- 4 grams of carbs
- 1 gram of total sugar
- 3 grams of sugar alcohol
Because of their use of natural sugars, the Good Good Concord Grape Jelly is a great alternative for diabetics. This is a vegan-friendly product, and with such a low calorie content, can be a benefit for those who still want their “sweet fix” but without the increase to their waistline.
Crofters Organic Concord Grape Premium Spread
Crofters Food in Canada produces a high-quality Concord grape spread and makes sure that their products are produced in a climate-friendly way. The ingredients for this spread are:
- Organic Concord Grape Puree
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Apple Pectin
- Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C, citric acid)
Nutrition Information (per 1 tablespoon):
- 30 calories
- 10 mg of sodium
- 8 total grams of carbs
- 8 grams of sugar
- and you get 20% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C!
The Crofters Food company has committed to reducing their water consumption, using recycled materials for their packaging, and refuses to use fruit that has been treated with synthetic chemicals or GMOs.
In Conclusion
Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is a vegan-friendly food. There are no ingredients in the jelly which would not be a good fit for a vegan-focused lifestyle. While it is permissible for a vegan diet, Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is not necessarily a healthy food. With high calorie, carbohydrate, and sugar content, it can be a food which affects your blood glucose levels and contributes to weight gain. As with any food, eating Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly in moderation should make it an acceptable addition to your vegan pantry.
Related Questions
Is Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly Gluten Free?
There are no wheat-based ingredients in any of Welch’s jelly products, so you can enjoy their jellies, jams, and spreads on a gluten-free diet.
Is Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly Dairy Free?
There are no dairy ingredients used to make the Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly spread. It is an acceptable product to eat if you have dairy or lactose allergies or reactions.
Is Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly Kosher?
In order for a grape jelly to be considered kosher, it has to be produced from kosher grape juices and with proper kosher supervision. No additives of natural or artificial grape flavorings can be used unless they, too, are kosher endorsed. There is no information available to indicate that the Welch’s Concord Grape Jelly is indeed a kosher food.