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Nutrition and daily life

Blackberry and raspberry jam — jam card

Blackberry and raspberry jam for tea. Choice, sugar and mould safety.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Jam on a dark background.
Figure 1.Jar of Blackberry and raspberry jam.

01Short answer

Berry jams may contain seeds. Choose a sealed jar. Discard if mouldy. High sugar — small spoon. Watch blood sugar on steroids/diabetes. Does not replace treatment.

02Simple explanation

Sealed jar.

If mould — discard.

Small spoon.

Clean spoon.

03Scientific explanation

WHO: limit free sugars.

LLS: do not eat mouldy food.

NCI: sweet taste may help calories — with your team.

04What happens in the body?

What is it?

Berry jams may contain seeds.

How to choose

Sealed intact glass, readable date.

Sugar

Most jams are high in sugar; start with a teaspoon.

Mould

Mould, ferment smell or bulging lid — discard. Do not scrape and eat.

How much sugar

WHO advises keeping free sugars below 10% of daily energy, ideally below 5%. Jam is high in sugar, so one or two teaspoons is enough. Steroids can raise blood sugar — if you have diabetes or high sugar, agree the portion with your team.

Home-made jam and mould

Throw away jam with mould on the surface — scraping the mould off and eating the rest is not considered safe. Keep an opened jar in the fridge and use a clean spoon. With low immunity, factory-packed jam is the safer choice.

05Four steps

Sealed jar, no mould, small clean spoon.

1Sealed jarLid intact.
2Check surfaceNo mould.
3Small spoonHigh sugar.
4Clean spoonDo not dip bread.
SafeSealed pack.
ModerationSmall spoon.
No mouldClean surface.

06At a glance

TopicBrief
ChoiceSealed jar.
SugarSmall spoon.
MouldDiscard.

07Key terms

Jam
Fruit cooked with sugar.
Mould
Visible fungus.
Free sugars
Added sugars.
Pasteurisation
Heat treatment.

08Key points

  • Sealed jar.
  • Discard mould.
  • Small spoon.
  • Clean spoon.
  • Not a treatment.
  • Free sugars: under 10% of daily energy (WHO).

09Frequently asked questions

If mould?

Discard the jar.

With diabetes?

Agree with your doctor.

Treats leukemia?

No.

Does jam improve blood counts?

No. Jam does not treat blood counts or leukemia.

Is sugar-free jam better?

It may contain less sugar, but read the label; the safety rules are the same.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. If mould?

  2. With diabetes?

  3. Treats leukemia?

  4. Does jam improve blood counts?

  5. Is sugar-free jam better?

My questions

12Sources

  1. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  2. CDC. Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
  3. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  4. NHS. Food safety
  5. World Health Organization. Healthy diet fact sheet
  6. U.S. FDA. Food Safety: What You Need to Know
  7. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
  8. American Cancer Society. Nutrition for People with Cancer
  9. ESPEN. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer (2021)
  10. USDA. FoodData Central
  11. World Health Organization. Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children
  12. World Health Organization. Salt reduction
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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