Trader Joe’s is a popular grocery store. They operate differently from other major grocery stores, though. While the company is known for selling quality own-brand products, it also has a philosophy for selling foods that are on the healthier side too. So, this begs the question ‘Does Trader Joe’s sell high fructose syrup?’.
No. Trader Joe’s does not sell any product that contains high fructose syrup. They have actually taken a massive stand against it over the years. This means that you won’t find it in any of their beverages, snacks, or sold separately. We doubt that this is something that Trader Joe’s will ever change about their business.
Let’s explain a little bit about why this is the case.
Understanding High Fructose Syrup
High fructose syrup is a sweetener produced from corn starch. It is used as an alternative to sucrose (your standard table sugar) to sweeten foods.
You rarely will be able to buy it on its own. In the US, it is used to flavor most cereals, readymade meals, and soft drinks.
Although, outside the US it is rarely used. For example, within the European Union, supplies are strictly limited due to a variety of regulations.
High fructose syrup is seen as an unhealthy product, although the US Government has claimed that there is no downside to using high fructose syrup over standard sugar. Although, high-fructose syrup does not contain any real nutrients. It is just carbs and water.
There is some suggestion that high-fructose syrup can contribute to obesity, although whether it contributes to obesity ‘worse’ than standard sucrose is unproven.
Although, at the end of the day, it is still almost pure carbs and you should want to limit it in your diet as much as possible.
To check the current price and availability of Karo Corn Syrup, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Trader Joe’s Product Philosophy
Trader Joe’s is a major grocery store, but the way it works is a little bit different. Unlike stores like Walmart, Costco, etc, Trader Joe’s rarely sells branded products. Instead, all of the products are sold either under the Trader Joe’s brand name, or the name of a company that they own.
Trader Joe’s has a commitment to offering unique and quality products at an affordable price. In fact, where possible, they buy directly from the supplier. This ensures that Trader Joe’s continues to meet their commitment to quality.
If you have ever been to Trader Joe’s, then you will notice that they have a wealth of different flavors on the shelves. They listen to their customers and try and source products that you would struggle to find outside of specialty stores.
Obviously, Trader Joe’s wants to ensure that their products are tasty. However, this is not the only restriction that they have in place. Where possible, their products are made from organic ingredients.
They never use artificial flavorings, and they have veered away from GMO products. They do have a few GMOs in their range, but the selection is very limited.
In fact, GMOs are really only there when non-GMO products can’t be sourced due to the nature of the food. They have also committed to ensuring that high fructose syrup cannot be found in any of their products.
Researching Trader Joe’s High Fructose Syrup Availability
Honestly, researching Trader Joe’s high fructose syrup availability is pretty easy. Unless they change their product philosophy in the future, which we doubt will happen, they are never, ever going to have any products that contain high fructose corn syrup.
Even if a product normally contains high fructose corn syrup with another brand, you can guarantee that Trader Joe’s products won’t be using it.
If you are interested in a sweetened product, you can head to the Trader Joe’s website and see the product’s ingredients. This will tell you, in plain English, exactly what ingredients are included in the product.
In fact, you can do the same in store, or even give Trader Joe’s a call. The company has a commitment to transparency, and they always make it clear what you are putting into your body.
If you are after a sweetener, perhaps for baking, then you can head down the baking section aisle in Trader Joe’s and you will see a wealth of different options.
Trader Joe’s is always trying to introduce new products, so it may be worth checking regularly. Their website will also be kept up-to-date with the latest sweeteners.
Alternatives to High Fructose Syrup
While Trader Joe’s does not stock high fructose syrup, they offer a variety of alternatives. The best alternative will be dependent on what you are planning to do with the high fructose syrup.
In most cases, honey and standard organic sugar are going to be the best replacement. Honey will probably be the better option if you are looking for something quite syrupy, while sugar will be the best option if you are looking for something that has the same flavor profile as high fructose syrup.
Trader Joe’s also offers an amazing Organic oak-aged maple syrup, flavored with a hint of bourbon (don’t worry, it isn’t alcoholic).
This is actually a good item to check out, because it shows that Trader Joe’s really wants to offer unique products to their customers. It also tastes amazing if you squirt some over your pancakes!
As mentioned, if you walk down the baking aisle in Trader Joe’s, then you will likely see a variety of other sweeteners that you could potentially use.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s does not sell high fructose syrup. In fact, they do not sell any product that contains high fructose syrup. it is one of Trader Joe’s core philosophies.
If they have to sweeten their products, then they will either use organic sugar, or something very similar. It is unlikely that Trader Joe’s will ever introduce high fructose syrup to their stores.
If you wish to find out more about Trader Joe’s ingredients, then you can view all of their products on the Trader Joe’s website. You can also give the Trader Joe’s customer support team a call. They will tell you the ingredient list of any product they sell. This company loves to be transparent in everything that they do.
