WHAT'S IN JELL-O?
JELL-O GELATIN — FAR FROM HOMEMADE™
Information updated January 2024
According to Statista 2024, Jell-O is the number one flavored gelatin dessert in the U.S. There are really only a handful of people in America who've never had Jell-O!
When Jell-O was first created in the late 1800's by a cough-syrup maker, Jell-O contained real fruit syrups. "PURE FRUIT FLAVOR" was noted on the package front.
JELL-O ORIGINALLY CONTAINED REAL FRUIT JUICE: Following are a couple of historical print ads stating that Strawberry Jell-O has, "Flavor captured from the actual juice of the sun-ripened fruit".
Now, Jell-O is made using Artificial Flavor and Artificial Colors.
(Source for NOW Jell-O Ingredients: Kraft Heinz Jell-O on Walmart Web site 1/24)
THEN vs. NOW: We see below the Jell-O evolution from 'Pure Fruit Flavor' + ‘Vegetable Color’ to 'Artificial Flavor' + ‘Artificial Color’.
The differences between the Jell-O Gelatin offerings are the use of different Artificial Flavors and Artificial Colors corresponding "consumer-expectation colors" >> what color would consumers expect Tropical Punch flavor to be?
Other than the Artificial Flavors and Colors, each box of Jell-O is basically Sugar and Gelatin with some added chemical ingredients.
Let's take a look at the ingredients in Kraft Heinz Jell-O Black Cherry Artificial Flavor Gelatin Dessert: (Source: Kraft Heinz Jell-O on Walmart Web site 1/24)
MODERN-DAY JELL-O CONTAINS COMMERCIAL CHEMICALS: There are 7 ingredients in Jell-O Black Cherry Artificial Flavor which are Not In Kitchen™ >> if we were making homemade fruit gelatin, we would not use Adipic Acid, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate or Fumaric Acid. We also would not use Artificial Flavor or 2 Artificial Colors - Red 40 and Blue 1.
WHY YOU WON'T SEE JELL-O AT WHOLE FOODS: Artificial Flavors and Artificial Colors are banned at Whole Foods Market who cites them as "Unacceptable in food." (Source: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 1/24).
Artificial Colors come with a warning in the European Union: "Warning: May have adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
Once upon a time, Jell-O was all about Pure Fruit Flavor . . .
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