TopsJams & Fruit Spreads#11 of 11 in categoryRating 2/5

Tops Pineapple Jam

Tops Pineapple Jam jar

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains Tartrazine
  • Red flag: High added sugar (66.6g per 100g)
  • Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate

Green flags

  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

7 listed
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

High sugarNutrition per 100 g
ENutritionCIngredients4Risk
Energy284 kcal
Protein0.2 g
Carbohydrates70.9 g
Total sugars68 g
Added sugars66.6 g
Total fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium30 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Pineapple jam: 48% pulp, tartrazine and sulphite

Tops Pineapple Jam is a 475 g jar made from sugar, pineapple pulp (48%), a gelling agent, an acidity regulator, artificial pineapple flavour, the colour tartrazine and two preservatives. The panel is printed per 100 g.

CleanPlate scores it [R]EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 g. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by sugar and pineapple pulp), with additives that cost points: potassium metabisulphite, flavouring and tartrazine. A red flag (Southampton Six x1) cuts the score by 20%. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (66.6 g per 100 g).

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • Product name

    “Pineapple Jam”

    Holds

    Pineapple pulp is 48% of the jam.

  • On the pack

    “Made From Handpicked Ingredients”

    Be careful

    A sourcing claim the pack gives no evidence for.

How EC4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 g.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
0.2 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
284 kcal

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Sugar
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
4
Flagged
Tartrazine, Sodium Benzoate
Artificial flavour or colour
Yes

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
66.6 g
Sodium
30 mg
Saturated fat
0 g
Trans fat
0 g

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

[R] Contains an ingredient on our red-flag list (such as a partially hydrogenated oil or a flagged synthetic dye), which cuts the ingredient grade.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Sugar, pineapple pulp (48%), gelling agent (INS 440), acidity regulator (INS 330), artificial flavouring substances (pineapple), food colour (INS 102) and preservatives (INS 211, INS 224).

Per 100 g: 284 kcal, 0 g fat of which 0 g saturated, 68 g sugar of which 66.6 g added, 0.2 g protein, 30 mg sodium. The allergen line reads contains sulphite, may contain soy. Fibre is not declared.

Ingredients to watch

  • TartrazineConcern

    INS 102 is a Southampton Six dye and cuts the ingredients score by 20%.

  • Added sugarConcern

    66.6 g per 100 g, almost all of the 68 g total sugar.

  • PreservativesWorth watching

    Potassium metabisulphite (INS 224) costs 3 points; the pack declares sulphite.

  • FruitFine

    Pineapple pulp is 48%.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Pineapple jam is mostly pineapple"

Sugar is the first ingredient and almost as much by weight.

Myth: "The colour is from the fruit"

The yellow comes from added tartrazine.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsA thin spread a few times a week
  • ChildrenOccasionally
  • Diabetes or prediabetesOccasionally, watch the sugar

Smarter ways to eat it

Thin spread

A 15 g spoon is about 43 kcal and 10 g of added sugar.

Choose less sugar

Look for a spread with no added colour and sugar below the 22.5 g high line.

Common questions

Is Tops Pineapple Jam healthy?

Tops Pineapple Jam scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains Tartrazine; High added sugar (66.6g per 100g); Contains Sodium Benzoate. On the plus side: Low sodium.

What does the EC4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Tops Pineapple Jam should I watch?

Food Colour (INS 102) (Tartrazine), Preservatives (INS 211, INS 224) (Sodium Benzoate).

Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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