Preserving: the Law

“It’s the order of predominance,” says Bruce Ota, a compliance officer, explaining FDA’s law about labeling ingredients; in other words, the most plentiful ingredient is listed first.

This is what you’ll read on the labels.

Whistling Wings Farm Raspberry Spread: Ingredients: Red raspberries, sugar, pectin. (10.5 ounces; $5.75 shipping included.)

L.L. Bean Raspberry Jam: Ingredients: Sugar, raspberries, raspberry juice (from concentrate), pectin. (10 ounces; $4.75 plus shipping.)

Whistling Wings Farm Blueberry Syrup: Ingredients: Wild Maine blueberries, sugar, pectin. (12 ounces; $7.95 shipping included.)

L.L. Bean Blueberry Syrup: Ingredients: Corn syrup, cane sugar, wild Maine blueberries, water, natural flavor, citric acid, sodium benzoate added to preserve freshness, F.D.& C. Red 40 and Blue 1. (12 ounces; $4.95 plus shipping.)

Want to judge for yourself? To order from L.L. Bean, call 1-800-221-4221. To order from Whistling Wings Farm, call 1-800-765-8989.