Unpacking the Nutrition: What are the ingredients in Trader Joe's fruit jellies?

October 12, 2025 •

3 min read

A single four-piece serving of Trader Joe's fruit jellies contains approximately 110 calories, predominantly from carbohydrates. Understanding what are the ingredients in Trader Joe's fruit jellies? is essential for consumers who wish to balance their sweet treats with their dietary goals and for those with specific sensitivities.

Quick Summary

Trader Joe's fruit jellies are typically made from a base of sugar, glucose syrup, water, and pectin, with flavors and colors derived from natural fruit and vegetable sources. Different product versions exist, each with a slightly varied ingredient list, but all remain high in added sugars and offer minimal nutritional benefits. The use of pectin instead of gelatin makes them a suitable vegan-friendly option for many.

Key Points

Sweeteners are primary: Trader Joe's fruit jellies list sugar and glucose syrup as the main ingredients.
Pectin is the gelling agent: Pectin, a plant-based ingredient from fruit, creates the jelly texture and makes the candies vegan.
Colors and flavors are natural: The vibrant colors come from natural sources like fruit juices, vegetable extracts, spirulina, and paprika.
Made with real fruit: Different product versions incorporate fruit purées or juice concentrates for flavoring.
High in sugar, low in nutrients: These candies consist mainly of carbohydrates and added sugars, offering minimal fat, protein, or fiber.
Product versions differ: Always check the specific package label, as ingredients and allergen warnings can vary between the UK-made and Kettle Cooked versions.

The Primary Components of Trader Joe's Fruit Jellies

Trader Joe's fruit jellies generally share a core set of ingredients, including sweeteners, a plant-based gelling agent, natural flavors, and colors. These components contribute to the jellies' taste and texture.

Sweeteners and Their Role

Sugar and glucose syrup are the main sweeteners in Trader Joe's fruit jellies. Glucose syrup helps create the desired texture and prevents sugar crystallization. Due to the high amount of added sugars, the jellies are a treat to be consumed in moderation.

Pectin: The Plant-Based Gelling Agent

Pectin, a plant-based gelling agent derived from fruits like apples and citrus, is used to give Trader Joe's fruit jellies their texture. This is a key difference from many gummy candies that use animal-derived gelatin, making these jellies suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

Natural Flavoring and Coloring

Trader Joe's fruit jellies use natural ingredients for their flavors and colors.

Flavoring: Natural flavors are combined with fruit ingredients such as juice concentrates and purées for taste.
Coloring: Colors come from natural plant extracts like spirulina, fruit and vegetable juices, turmeric, and paprika.

Breakdown of Different Trader Joe's Fruit Jelly Products

Ingredient lists can vary between the different types of fruit jellies offered by Trader Joe's.

UK-Made Fruit Jellies Candy

This version includes sugar, glucose syrup (from corn and wheat), water, pectin, various fruit juice concentrates and purées, natural flavors, citric acid, potassium citrate, and natural colors like spirulina extract, fruit juice, and paprika extract. An allergen warning indicates it contains wheat and may contain milk, egg, soy, and nuts.

Kettle Cooked Fruit Jellies

This version's ingredients include sugar, corn glucose syrup, water, fruit pectin, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid, and colors from vegetable juice and turmeric. It primarily uses corn glucose syrup and a simpler set of colorants compared to the UK-made version.

Ingredient Comparison: UK-Made vs. Kettle Cooked Fruit Jellies


Feature	UK-Made Fruit Jellies Candy	Kettle Cooked Fruit Jellies
Sweeteners	Sugar, glucose syrup (corn, wheat)	Sugar, glucose syrup (corn)
Gelling Agent	Pectin	Fruit Pectin
Flavoring	Natural flavors, fruit juice concentrates, fruit purees	Natural flavors, real fruit extracts
Coloring	Spirulina extract, fruit juice, paprika extract	Vegetable juice, turmeric
Acidifiers	Citric acid, potassium citrate	Citric acid, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid
Allergens	Contains wheat; may contain milk, egg, soy, nuts	May contain milk, nuts

Making Informed Choices About Your Candy

While containing real fruit and natural colors, Trader Joe's fruit jellies are still a candy and should be eaten in moderation due to their high added sugar content. They offer minimal nutritional value. Those with allergies should always check the specific package label for ingredients and warnings, as these can vary between products and manufacturing facilities. The presence of wheat in the UK-made version is particularly important for individuals with gluten sensitivities.

Conclusion: The Final Word on Trader Joe's Fruit Jellies

Trader Joe's fruit jellies are primarily sugar-based candies that use natural ingredients for flavor and color. Their use of pectin makes them a popular vegan option. Because product ingredients and allergens can differ based on sourcing, it is essential to always read the specific package label for the most accurate information. Enjoying these jellies in moderation is appropriate for most diets, with an understanding of their simple, sugar-focused composition.

Additional resources

For more information on the general nutritional facts and health considerations of jelly, consult a reliable source like Verywell Fit.(https://www.verywellfit.com/jelly-nutrition-facts-and-health-benefits-5081321)

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Trader Joe's fruit jellies are suitable for vegans because they use pectin, a plant-based gelling agent, instead of animal-derived gelatin.

The vibrant colors are derived from natural sources, including fruit juices, vegetable juice, spirulina extract, and paprika extract, rather than artificial dyes.

Pectin is a naturally occurring starch found in fruits and vegetables. It's used as a plant-based gelling agent to give the jellies their characteristic texture.

No, according to the ingredient lists, Trader Joe's fruit jellies use 'natural flavors' derived from fruit purées and concentrates.

The UK-made version explicitly states it 'contains wheat' in the glucose syrup. However, the Kettle Cooked version uses corn glucose syrup and does not list wheat as an ingredient, but cross-contamination can still be a risk depending on the manufacturing facility.

The primary differences lie in the source of glucose syrup (corn vs. wheat), the specific fruit ingredients used (purees vs. extracts), and the coloring agents (spirulina/paprika vs. vegetable juice/turmeric).

Allergen warnings vary, but some versions note potential cross-contamination with milk, egg, soy, peanuts, almonds, and other tree nuts due to shared manufacturing facilities.