Healthy Food Guideby KarbCoach

Healthy Food Guide by KarbCoach

Dickinson's Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-10-17 · Dickinson's

Quick answer

Lower integrity

Dickinson's sugar free strawberry preserves received a Food Integrity Score of 52 out of 100 (lower integrity). This reflects highly processed and moderate additive load. Strawberries lead the list, but the bulk of this jar is built from polydextrose, maltodextrin, gums, and a sweetener system to mimic the texture and sweetness of traditional preserves. Red 40 and a vague natural flavor add more formulation layers. It reads as an occasional treat rather than an everyday fruit spread, mainly because of how much work the additives are doing. Main considerations include synthetic sweetener and artificial color, bulking carbohydrates and gums, and vague natural flavor. Simpler options: Choose a jam or preserve with fewer additives and a shorter ingredient list; look for fruit preserves sweetened with fruit juice or simple sugar and without artificial colors.

Food Integrity Score 52/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Highly processed
  • Moderate additive load
  • Transparency: High

What to watch?

  • Synthetic sweetener and artificial color
  • Bulking carbohydrates and gums
  • Vague natural flavor

Simpler options to consider

  • Choose a jam or preserve with fewer additives and a shorter ingredient list
  • Look for fruit preserves sweetened with fruit juice or simple sugar and without artificial colors

You are viewing ingredients and processing. Switch to Longevity for nutrition and longer-term eating pattern fit.

Source data, GTIN, and Healthy Food Guide analysis details

Product facts

Product
Dickinson's Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves
Category
Produce (source: Jam, Jelly & Fruit Spreads)
GTIN / UPC
00051500030011
Serving size
17 g (1 Tbsp)
Source data — ingredients
Ingredient list from product label data (see Sources)
Healthy Food Guide analysis
Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards. See methodology under Sources.
Data last verified

Food Integrity results

Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves

Dickinson's

Lower integrity

Warning Signs

Sucralose, Red 40, potassium sorbate, and locust bean gum make this a formulated sugar-free spread rather than a simple fruit preserve.

Consider This

Polydextrose, maltodextrin, natural flavor, and calcium chloride are typical of factory-formulated, texture-engineered reduced-sugar products.

Good Substitutes

Try mashing fresh strawberries with a little lemon juice and a touch of chia or your preferred sweetener for a simpler spread.

Overall Assessment

Lower integrity

Strawberries lead the list, but the bulk of this jar is built from polydextrose, maltodextrin, gums, and a sweetener system to mimic the texture and sweetness of traditional preserves. Red 40 and a vague natural flavor add more formulation layers. It reads as an occasional treat rather than an everyday fruit spread, mainly because of how much work the additives are doing.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Synthetic sweetener and artificial color
  • Bulking carbohydrates and gums
  • Vague natural flavor

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • Natural flavor — Vague flavor system
  • Locust bean gum — Texture gum
  • Potassium sorbate — Synthetic preservative
  • Sucralose — Synthetic sweetener
  • Red 40 — Artificial color

Highest concern ingredients

  • Red 40 (8/10) — Synthetic artificial color.
  • Sucralose (non nutritive sweetener) (7/10) — Synthetic high-intensity sweetener.
  • Natural flavor (7/10) — Vague flavor system.

Better choice tips

  • Choose a jam or preserve with fewer additives and a shorter ingredient list.
  • Look for fruit preserves sweetened with fruit juice or simple sugar and without artificial colors.

Ingredients

Ingredient list

WATER*, STRAWBERRIES+, POLYDEXTROSE*, MALTODEXTRIN*, FRUIT PECTIN, NATURAL FLAVOR*, LOCUST BEAN GUM*, CITRIC ACID, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), SUCRALOSE (NON NUTRITIVE SWEETENER)*, CALCIUM CHLORIDE*, RED 40*.

Formulations can vary — check the package label for the final word.

Highest-concern ingredients first. Expand an item for notes.

  1. Red 40Concern 8/10 — Higher concernColor additiveWatchlist · Additive · Higher concern

    What this is

    Color additive

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Artificial colors are a common watchlist item even when used for appearance.

    Additional note

    Synthetic artificial color.

    Family watchlist

    Synthetic artificial color added for appearance.

  2. Natural flavorConcern 7/10 — Higher concernVague ingredientWatchlist · Additive · Vague label term

    What this is

    Vague ingredient

    Processing category

    Unknown / not listed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Vague flavor blends can hide multiple undisclosed components.

    Additional note

    Vague flavor system with undisclosed components.

  3. Sucralose (non nutritive sweetener)Concern 7/10 — Higher concernSweetenerWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Synthetic sweeteners are a common watchlist item for users avoiding artificial sweeteners.

    Additional note

    Synthetic high-intensity sweetener.

    Family watchlist

    Synthetic non-nutritive sweetener.

  4. Locust bean gumConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernThickenerWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Thickener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Gums are texture helpers commonly used in reduced-sugar formulas.

    Additional note

    Gum used for thickening and texture.

    Family watchlist

    Texture-building gum used in formulated products.

View all 12 ingredient assessments
  1. Potassium sorbate (preservative)Concern 6/10 — Moderate concernPreservativeWatchlist · Additive

    What this is

    Preservative

    Processing category

    Synthetic / man-made

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Preservatives are added to extend shelf life in formulated foods.

    Additional note

    Synthetic preservative used to limit mold and yeast growth.

    Family watchlist

    Synthetic preservative added for shelf life.

  2. PolydextroseConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernBulking agentAdditive

    What this is

    Bulking agent

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Engineered fiber used to build body in reduced-sugar products.

    Additional note

    Synthetic bulking fiber used for sweetness and texture.

  3. MaltodextrinConcern 4/10 — Mild concernRefined carbohydrateAdditive

    What this is

    Refined carbohydrate

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Refined starch fraction used to add body and mouthfeel.

    Additional note

    Refined starch-derived carbohydrate used as a bulking agent.

  4. Calcium chlorideConcern 3/10 — Mild concernFirming agentAdditive

    What this is

    Firming agent

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Added mainly to support texture in formulated fruit products.

    Additional note

    Mineral salt used to firm texture.

  5. Citric acidConcern 2/10 — Very low concernAcidulantAdditive

    What this is

    Acidulant

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Additive load

    Why it matters

    Common acid used for flavor balance and mild preservation.

    Additional note

    Common acidulant for tartness and preservation support.

  6. Fruit pectinConcern 1/10 — Very low concernGelling agent

    What this is

    Gelling agent

    Processing category

    Natural refined

    Why it matters

    Pectin is a fruit-derived gelling agent used in traditional preserves.

    Additional note

    Naturally derived gelling agent from fruit.

  7. WaterConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Plain water is a neutral base ingredient.

    Additional note

    Basic base ingredient.

  8. StrawberriesConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    The fruit base is recognizable and simple.

    Additional note

    Primary whole fruit ingredient.

This Food Integrity score estimates how close a food appears to a simple, recognizable ingredient profile. It is not a medical safety rating. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

How this product may fit different goals

The same food can look different depending on what matters most to you. Here is a general preview of how this product may align with several common goals.

  • Low Sugar Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low Sugar Lifestyle, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar on watchlist (see Food Integrity)

    See more for this goal

  • Vegetarian

    Supportive

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegetarian, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Plant-food ingredients (Mentions "strawberry". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Vegan

    Supportive

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Vegan, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Plant-food ingredients (Mentions "strawberry". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Plant-Based

    Supportive

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Plant-Based, the available data suggest this product may align in helpful ways.

    A supportive signal: Plant-food ingredients (Mentions "strawberry". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Minimally Processed Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Minimally Processed Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Higher processing level (Highly processed)

    This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Whole-Food Focused Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

    For someone prioritizing Whole-Food Focused Eating, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Higher processing level (Highly processed)

    This product has 2 additional signals for this goal.

    See more for this goal

See how this product fits your goals

Choose what matters most to you and explore a more detailed interpretation of this product's nutrition, ingredients, and tradeoffs.

Personalize this analysis

Understanding the Food Integrity analysis

What the Food Integrity analysis evaluates

The Food Integrity analysis focuses on how a packaged food is formulated and made. It examines processing level, ingredient quality, additives, oils, sweeteners, purity cues, and how clearly a label communicates what is in the product. The Food Integrity Score summarizes that formulation and transparency picture on a 0–100 scale. It is not a full nutrient report and it is not a personalized meal plan.

Why processing, ingredients, and transparency matter

Processing level and ingredient quality shape what you are actually eating beyond calories on the label. Additives, industrial oils, and intense sweeteners can change how clean or heavily engineered a product feels, even when the front of pack looks wholesome. Purity and transparency matter because incomplete or marketing-heavy labeling can hide tradeoffs that only show up when the full ingredient list is reviewed carefully.

Who may prioritize Food Integrity

Some people care mainly about Food Integrity because their dietary goals center on formulation rather than macros alone. Examples include checking vegetarian or vegan suitability, preferring simpler ingredient sources, avoiding certain additives or sweeteners, watching oil choices, or preferring less processed options. For those priorities, the Food Integrity Score can be the more practical first read.

How Food Integrity differs from Longevity

Food Integrity is the focused analysis of processing, ingredients, additives, purity, and transparency. Longevity is the broader analysis of nutritional composition, metabolic and dietary characteristics, processing, and ingredient quality together. Favorable nutrition values do not necessarily mean strong Food Integrity: a product can look balanced on macros yet still rely on heavy processing or additives that the Food Integrity analysis flags in more detail.

Why the two analyses overlap—and why to review Longevity too

The analyses overlap intentionally. Food Integrity–related characteristics contribute to Longevity, and Longevity still benefits from the same ingredient-quality lens. They are not competing verdicts; they answer different questions at different depths. Reviewing the Longevity analysis can add information about nutritional composition, metabolic characteristics, and dietary balance that Food Integrity alone does not emphasize. Looking at both usually gives the most complete understanding of tradeoffs.

Common questions about this product

Is Dickinson's Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Highly processed. That reflects formulation and processing signals from the ingredient analysis — not a medical or regulatory classification.

Why are the Longevity and Food Integrity scores different?

Longevity emphasizes nutrition per serving and longer-term dietary alignment. Food Integrity emphasizes ingredients, additives, processing, and label transparency. The same product can score differently on those lenses.

How much fiber is in one serving?

Dickinson's Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Dickinson's Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves: 0g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include Sucralose (non-nutritive), Polydextrose. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Contains real strawberries; Very low calories per serving; No added sugar.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: Artificial sweetener (sucralose); Red 40 artificial color; Multiple thickeners and preservative.

Who might evaluate this product differently?

People prioritizing different goals (for example lower carbs, higher protein, or minimally processed eating) may weigh the same produce differently. Use the goal preview on this page, then personalize in KarbCoach for your priorities.

Other published analyses in Produce, selected from the same Healthy Food Guide catalog.

Source data and Healthy Food Guide analysis

  1. Public label databases (including USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts) — Possible sources for package ingredients and nutrition.
  2. Healthy Food Guide analysis (Longevity and Food Integrity) — Independent Longevity and Food Integrity scorecards.
  3. How the Longevity Score is calculated
  4. How the Food Integrity Score is calculated
  5. Scoring models: KarbCoach Longevity and Food Integrity.
  6. Independent analysis. No manufacturer affiliation.
  7. Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions. Full sources and safety details.
Label accuracy and safety information

Formulations can vary by region, size, and packaging. Check the package label for ingredients, allergens, and nutrition. Not medical advice — do not use this site or the KarbCoach mobile app for allergy or health decisions.

Sources, citations & safety

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