The Truth About Pork in Smucker’s Jelly: What Vegans Need to Know

Since I ate a lot of PB as a kid, That sweet fruity flavor takes me right back to childhood. But as an adult who eats only plants, I have to ask: Does Smucker’s jelly have pork in it, or is it vegan-friendly?

I’ll talk about what’s in Smucker’s jelly and fruit spreads in this article. I’ll talk about whether their classic recipes call for pork or other meats. Read on to find out the truth if you like fruit spreads but don’t eat meat.

A Brief History of Smucker’s Jelly & Jam

Let’s start with some background on this staple of American pantries. J.M. Smucker Company was founded in 1897 in Orrville Ohio by Jerome Monroe Smucker. He sold apple butter from the back of a horse-drawn wagon.

Demand grew quickly for Smucker’s fruit spreads thanks to their high quality and flavor. In 1922, the company introduced its first jam – made from strawberries. Their jelly followed in 1934, which also used strawberries.

Over the next decades, Smucker’s continued expanding their fruit spread collection They added squeeze bottles, low sugar, and all-natural lines Today Smucker’s produces jellies, jams, preserves, fruit butters, and marmalades in many delicious flavors.

Their old-fashioned recipes and iconic branding have made Smucker’s a trusted household name. But not all consumers realize what goes into those sweet fruity spreads…

The Mystery of What’s in Jelly

Jelly seems deceptively simple, right? Fruit juice and sugar cooked into a spreadable treat. But how exactly does the liquid transform into that jiggly yet firm texture?

The secret ingredient is pectin. This soluble fiber naturally occurs in fruit. But most jelly recipes call for extra pectin to help it set properly.

There are two main types of pectin used in food production:

• Fruit pectin – extracted from citrus peels or apple pomace

• Gelatin – produced by boiling collagen from animal bones and tissues

Gelatin is what gives Jell-O, marshmallows, and gummy bears their signature texture. But it’s obviously off-limits for vegans and vegetarians.

This left me wondering – does Smucker’s use fruit or gelatin pectin in their recipes? Let’s take a look at the ingredients…

Digging Into the Ingredients List

When researching if a packaged food is vegan-friendly, the ingredients list is the best place to start. So I took a close look at the label of a Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly jar.

Here are the simple ingredients:

• Strawberry juice
• High fructose corn syrup
• Corn syrup
• Fruit pectin
• Citric acid

I don’t see any vague additives like “natural flavors” that could potentially hide animal-derived ingredients. And gelatin doesn’t appear anywhere on the list!

Instead, Smucker’s specifies they use fruit pectin. This pectin extracted from citrus peels or apples is totally vegan.

To confirm their jelly and jams are gelatin-free, I checked multiple Smucker’s products across flavors. Their ingredient lists consistently showed fruit pectin, not gelatin.

It’s clear from analyzing the contents that Smucker’s jelly and fruit spreads contain no pork or other meat products. But I wanted to verify this directly with the company…

Getting an Official Response From Smucker’s

To remove all doubt about whether their products are vegan-friendly, I reached out to Smucker’s customer service. I asked plainly:

“Do any Smucker’s jellies, jams, or fruit spreads contain pork, beef, or other meat products?”

Here is the response I received:

“Thank you for contacting The J.M. Smucker Company. None of our jellies, jams, preserves, or fruit spreads contain any pork, beef, poultry, fish, or other animal products including gelatin. They are all suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets.”

This definitive statement confirms that Smucker’s jelly and fruit spreads are 100% vegan. The company excludes all meat-based ingredients like pork and gelatin from their recipes.

Smucker’s motivation is likely two-fold. Eliminating meat satisfies growing demand for plant-based options. But fruit pectin also happens to be cheaper than animal-derived gelatin. So it’s a win-win situation for the brand.

Why Smucker’s Sticks With Fruit Pectin

Smucker’s was founded before gelatin rose in popularity. So their recipes have always emphasized fruit pectin instead. They’ve maintained this standard over the decades for several key reasons:

Cost – Fruit pectin extracted from waste peels and pulp is cheaper than gelatin. This keeps Smucker’s prices affordable.

Supply – Relying on fruit instead of animal collagen protects Smucker’s from gelatin supply issues.

Quality – Fruit pectin allows Smucker’s to use more real fruit in their recipes. This creates superior taste and texture.

Versatility – With only plant-based ingredients, Smucker’s products can appeal to all types of diets and restrictions.

Smucker’s commitment to fruit-based pectin has allowed their jellies and jams to remain vegan-friendly for over 100 years. Their classic recipes endure thanks to this smart ingredient choice.

How Smucker’s Stacks Up to Other Brands

Smucker’s certainly isn’t the only company producing vegan jelly and jam. But how do they compare to other top brands on the market?

Here is a quick overview of how Smucker’s measures up:

• Welch’s – Also uses fruit pectin. Vegan-friendly flavors available. Less variety than Smucker’s.

• Bonne Maman – Relies on fruit pectin as well. Limited vegan options compared to Smucker’s.

• Polaner All Fruit – Contains fruit pectin and no high fructose corn syrup. Only 10 vegan flavors.

• Crofter’s Organic – Uses apple fiber instead of pectin. Not all flavors are vegan. Less affordable than Smucker’s.

Based on both their extensive vegan variety and affordable prices, Smucker’s products come out on top for many plant-based consumers.

Enjoying Smucker’s Jelly on a Vegan Diet

Now that you know Smucker’s jellies and jams contain no pork, gelatin, or other animal products, how can you enjoy them on a vegan diet?

Here are some of my favorite ways to work Smucker’s fruit spreads into plant-based eating:

• Classic PB&J sandwiches
• Fruit spread thumbprint cookies
• Filings for crepes and pancakes
• Swirled into oatmeal or chia pudding
• Dollops on vegan yogurt parfaits
• Sauces for vegetable stir fries
• Mix-ins for smoothie bowls
• Glazes on tofu or tempeh
• Fillings for tarts and galettes

Smucker’s also offers some products specifically for vegan diets:

• Organic Fruit Spreads – Made with organic fruit and sugar
• Low Sugar Fruit Spreads – Contain 35% less sugar
• “Simply Fruit” – No added sugar versions

With so many flavors and options, you can always find a Smucker’s product to satisfy your fruity cravings on a vegan diet. Their jellies and jams deliver childhood nostalgia without the animal products.

Smucker’s Sticks to Their Fruit-Based Roots

Smucker’s commitment to fruit pectin over gelatin spans back to their origins in the late 1800s. This classic American brand has produced pork-free jams and jellies for over a century.

While many companies add mystery animal-based ingredients to processed foods, Smucker’s proudly sticks to plant-based pectin in their recipes. They offer a wide selection of vegan-friendly flavors at affordable prices.

So if PB&Js are your jam, you can enjoy Smucker’s guilt-free on a vegan diet! Their jellies and fruit spreads will transport you right back to the good old days with their sweet fruity flavors.