Healthy Food Guideby KarbCoach

Healthy Food Guide by KarbCoach

Smucker's Low Sugar, Apricot Reduced Sugar Preserves: Food Integrity analysis

Updated 2026-10-17 · Smucker's

Quick answer

Mixed integrity

Smucker's low sugar, apricot reduced sugar preserves received a Food Integrity Score of 68 out of 100 (mixed integrity). This reflects lightly processed and low additive load. This is a short list with real apricots at the front, so it isn't a heavily engineered product. Two corn-derived syrups do most of the sweetening, which makes it a better occasional spread than an everyday staple. Fruit pectin and citric acid are simple, recognizable helpers used to set and balance the spread. Main considerations include two refined corn-derived syrups provide much of the sweetness and sugar content is high per serving despite the low-sugar label. Simpler options: Choose a fruit spread sweetened without corn syrup or HFCS; try a homemade apricot jam with fruit and a small amount of honey or maple.

Food Integrity Score 68/100

What stood out on the label?

  • Lightly processed
  • Low additive load
  • Transparency: High

What to watch?

  • Two refined corn-derived syrups provide much of the sweetness
  • Sugar content is high per serving despite the low-sugar label

Simpler options to consider

  • Choose a fruit spread sweetened without corn syrup or HFCS
  • Try a homemade apricot jam with fruit and a small amount of honey or maple

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
Smucker's Low Sugar, Apricot Reduced Sugar Preserves
Category
Produce (source: Jam, Jelly & Fruit Spreads)
GTIN / UPC
00051500006757
Serving size
20 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

Low Sugar, Apricot Reduced Sugar Preserves

Smucker's

Mixed integrity

Warning Signs

High fructose corn syrup and corn syrup sit near the top of this short list, a refined sweetener pairing worth a closer look.

Consider This

Refined corn syrups and high fructose corn syrup are typically associated with factory-formulated sweet spreads rather than simple kitchen recipes.

Good Substitutes

Look for a fruit spread sweetened with little or no added syrup, or make a quick apricot jam with fruit and a small amount of honey or maple.

Overall Assessment

Mixed integrity

This is a short list with real apricots at the front, so it isn't a heavily engineered product. Two corn-derived syrups do most of the sweetening, which makes it a better occasional spread than an everyday staple. Fruit pectin and citric acid are simple, recognizable helpers used to set and balance the spread.

Key Highlights

What stood out

  • Two refined corn-derived syrups provide much of the sweetness
  • Sugar content is high per serving despite the low-sugar label

Family Watchlist

Ingredients some users may personally want to know about.

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup — Refined corn sweetener
  • Corn Syrup — Refined corn syrup

Highest concern ingredients

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup (6/10) — Refined sweetener used in a significant share of the formula.
  • Corn Syrup (5/10) — Second refined syrup adding to the sweetening load.

Better choice tips

  • Choose a fruit spread sweetened without corn syrup or HFCS
  • Try a homemade apricot jam with fruit and a small amount of honey or maple

Ingredients

Ingredient list

APRICOTS, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CORN SYRUP, FRUIT PECTIN, CITRIC ACID.

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

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

  1. High Fructose Corn SyrupConcern 6/10 — Moderate concernSweetenerWatchlist

    What this is

    Sweetener

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    A refined sweetener some users prefer to limit.

    Additional note

    Refined corn-derived sweetener used heavily in the formula.

    Family watchlist

    Refined sweetener that some users prefer to avoid.

  2. Corn SyrupConcern 5/10 — Moderate concernRefined syrupWatchlist

    What this is

    Refined syrup

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Family Watchlist

    Why it matters

    Another refined sweetener stacked alongside HFCS.

    Additional note

    Refined corn-derived syrup adding additional sweetness.

    Family watchlist

    Refined sweetener that some users prefer to limit.

  3. Fruit PectinConcern 2/10 — Very low concernGelling agentAdditive

    What this is

    Gelling agent

    Processing category

    Processed

    Main concern area

    Processing

    Why it matters

    Extracted fruit fiber used for texture, a mild formulation helper.

    Additional note

    Fruit-derived gelling agent used to set the spread.

  4. 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 in fruit preserves, a mild additive.

    Additional note

    Acidulant that balances flavor and supports setting.

View all 5 ingredient assessments
  1. ApricotsConcern 0/10 — No meaningful concernSimple food

    What this is

    Simple food

    Processing category

    Whole food

    Why it matters

    Real fruit is the foundation of this product.

    Additional note

    Whole fruit, the recognizable base of the spread.

This Food Integrity score estimates how close the ingredient profile is to simple, recognizable, high-integrity foods. It is not a medical safety rating or a health claim. 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-Spike Stability

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Low-Spike Stability, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

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

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • GLP-1 Eating Support

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing GLP-1 Eating Support, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "syrup", "fructose", "high fructose". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • 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)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Appetite & Portion Awareness

    Watch-outs

    Metabolic Health

    For someone prioritizing Appetite & Portion Awareness, the analysis identifies considerations that may matter more than the general product score alone.

    A consideration: Sweetener/sugar ingredients (Mentions "syrup", "fructose", "high fructose". See ingredients for details.)

    See more for this goal

  • Low-Carb Lifestyle

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

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

    A consideration: Carb-dense ingredients (Mentions "corn syrup", "syrup". See ingredients for details.)

    This product has 1 additional signal for this goal.

    See more for this goal

  • Keto-Style Eating

    Watch-outs

    Dietary Patterns

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

    A consideration: Carb-dense ingredients (Mentions "corn syrup", "syrup". See ingredients for details.)

    This product has 1 additional signal 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 Smucker's Low Sugar, Apricot Reduced Sugar Preserves highly processed?

Food Integrity lists processing level as Lightly 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?

Smucker's Low Sugar, Apricot Reduced Sugar Preserves shows about 0g of fiber per labeled serving in the Longevity nutrition facts.

Does it contain added sugar?

Smucker's Low Sugar, Apricot Reduced Sugar Preserves: 12g added sugar per serving; sweetener signals include High fructose corn syrup, Corn syrup. Confirm the current package Nutrition Facts and ingredient list.

What helped the Longevity Score?

Key positives called out in the analysis include: Made primarily from apricots; Simple short ingredient list; No artificial colors listed.

What prevented a perfect Longevity Score?

Key concerns noted include: Corn syrup and HFCS are added sweeteners; Sugar 12g per 1 Tbsp serving; Negligible fiber and protein.

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

See how this item lines up with your goals

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