This post contains affiliate links
I received the Jif No Sugar Added & Smuckers Sugar Free VoxBox compliments of Influenster, Jif, and Smuckers in exchange for my honest review.
When I learned that I would be receiving the Jif No Sugar Added & Smuckers Sugar Free VoxBox from Influenster, I was curious to see if the products lived up to their names and were truly sugar free. Years ago, in an effort to begin eating more nutritiously, I began reading ingredient labels to get an idea of what was actually in the food products I was consuming. I’ve gained a small bit of knowledge about certain ingredients and am currently working on habitually consuming foods that nourish my body.
I was excited to try the Jif No Sugar Added & Smuckers Sugar Free – who doesn’t love the classic combo of PB & J? However, I was disappointed upon reading the product label for the jam as it revealed that the product doesn’t necessarily live up to its claim. Although sugar isn’t listed in the ingredients making it technically sugar free, I noticed that two of the ingredients in the jam polydextrose and sucralose, end with “ose” which instantly suggested to me that they contain sugar in some form or another.
I researched polydextrose and learned that it’s a synthetic form of glucose (which the body produces on its own) and it isn’t digestible. It made me wonder why it would be used in food and food products. As a sugar replacement, it is calorie-free and appears to be a source of fiber (whether or not it’s a healthy source seems to be up for debate). After researching it, I began to understand why food product manufacturers would use it.
I also observed that the jam contains maltodextrin which has a higher glycemic index (GI) than regular sugar which will cause a spike in glucose levels. Although sugar isn’t technically in its name, it’s made of a white powder consisting of sugar molecules. This may not be a problem for most consumers but many do have to consider this and while it is supposed to be a marketing tactic to make a product sell, I wonder if it will prove detrimental to certain consumers in the long run.
Upon observing the ingredients in the Jif No Sugar Added Peanut Butter, I noticed that it only contains three ingredients: peanuts, palm oil, and salt. Although this product seems to be more transparent about the ingredients, I suspect that the ones it contains are highly processed – there is nothing on the label to indicate otherwise. I also found it odd for a peanut butter to be marketed as sugar free because it seems that peanut butter generally is (or at least ought to be – I usually use this one).
While I’m thankful to have received the Jif No Sugar Added Peanut Butter and the Smuckers Sugar Free VoxBox, I don’t believe these are products I will be purchasing. I generally enjoy food products that consist of just food and don’t contain ingredients created in a lab. For those who don’t mind, and are trying to find a jam with a lower calorie count and a peanut butter that is sugar free, these may be good options.
