Fruit Roll-Ups: Simply Fruit
Jessica is addicted to Gushers. There, I said it. Her horrible secret is out (sorry!). Each week after I shop at the Farmer’s Market, with my car filled with fresh fruits and veggies, I drive over to the supermarket and sneak down that isle to satisfy her cravings. This week was like every other, looking through all the brightly colored packaging for the one that makes her happy, when I saw them.
I wonder if a kid could tell the difference?
That’s right, Fruit Roll-Ups has a new “healthy” version. I took a look at the box and I was pretty shocked, it was actually something I would be happy letting a child eat. It contained no corn syrup, had some fiber, no artificial colorings, etc. I decided to get them so I could do a review, but I had a little problem. I hadn’t eaten a Fruit Roll-up since I was a kid, so I had to actually purchase a “normal” one for a comparison. I looked for a normal strawberry and the one I purchased was the closest they had. So… let’s compare, shall we?
Wow, the one on top sure looks fun!!
Yeah, BIG difference.
Fruit vs Chemistry
You’ll note that all the packaging is very simple and is mainly greens and whites, compared to the XTREME™ packaging of the original. The other thing you’ll notice is that there is a complete difference in the color and texture between the two products. The Simply Fruit resembles the old dark and rough fruit leather while the regular Roll-Up resembles some sort of neon plastic. A quick breakdown of the ingredients:
Standard: Pears from Concentrate, Corn Syrup, Dried Corn Syrup, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil. Contains 2% or Less of: Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Acetylated Mono and Diglycerides, Fruit Pectin, Malic Acid, Natural Flavor, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Color (red 40, yellows 5 & 6, blue 1).
Simply Fruit: Apple Juice Concentrate, Dried Apples, Strawberry Puree, Canola Oil. Contains 2% or Less of: Fruit Pectin, Lemon Juice Concentrate and Blueberry Juice Concentrate Added for Color, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Natural Flavor, Sodium Sulfite and Citric Acid Added to Protect Color.
That is a huge difference between the two, don’t you think? The funny thing is that the nutrition values pretty much remained the same with no change in the size of the roll. Both are 14 grams and have 50 calories. The Simply Fruit has .5g less fat, 35mg less sodium, 3g more sugars, <1g more fiber. That’s it. Besides that, they are identical in “core” nutrition.
So, as a parent, I’d like to think if you were to buy your child Fruit Roll-Ups you would buy them these. I would have to say “good job” to whoever at General Mills decided to pursue this avenue of children’s snacks. Oh! One last thing… the taste! While the standard Fruit Roll tastes like a very sweet dose of artificial strawberry flavoring, the Simply Fruit tastes like fruit. Not 100% like Strawberries (though you get that), but more like a blend of fruits (I assume this is due to the apple concentrate and dried apples). I decided to let Jess try them and even she said she’d choose the new stuff over the old. Shocking!
Now then, I want you to listen up, General Mills: Please make a “Simply Fruit” version of Gushers, so I can feel better about her addiction. Thanks! Everyone else with little kids who clamor for Fruit Roll-Ups: Go get these instead.
14 Comments (add your own)
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
Does Sunkist still make the big circular fruit rolls that used to be sold on crinkly cellophane wrapped in plastic? They were sold in the produce section of most supermarkets in the 80s and I think early 90s, and tasted like real fruit. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Those were delicious. But yes, I get the Gushers thing. It’s that citric-acid infused goo in the middle that makes you want more.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jason Kelley. Jason Kelley said: Good news, parents! Fruit Roll-Ups is trying to become healthy! http://bit.ly/2Cgn2F [...]
Arpana – Are you talking about the old fruit roll-ups that were sold individually in produce sections? If so, I’m on a massive search for them myself!
Boo – “Sunkist Fruit Roll Ups, a licensed product manufactured and marketed by Paramount Farms, were discontinued in 2002, and are no longer available.”
Hi, I am trying to find the product mentioned above. What stores sell the simply fruit by fruit roll-ups? I would appreciate it much, and so will my kids. Thank you much!!!
I found these at Target, so I would check there first! I haven’t looked elsewhere, but they were still there the last time I went.
Thank you for the posotive review of this product. My BF is hooked on fake gummy products too. This will be a great alternative for him. I actually saw them at Costco and walked on by assuming that they were another marketing ploy by General Mills…
They sell them in bulk at Costco in a mixed box (48 count, I think) of strawberry and wildberry flavors.
I bought these from Costco and me and my 3 kids loved them and I enjoyed giving them to them because I felt they were a healthy snack. I was so happy to find them. Now I went back to get more and Costco no longer carries them and Meijer doesn’t and never has. I am so bummed and tried to order them on the internet and I can’t find them anywhere. Such a great idea, if only I could buy them!
I LOVED those Sunkist round fruit roll-ups! The Simply Fruit ones are very close to the Sunkist ones, maybe a bit thinner, and comes in fewer flavors. Sunkist should bring them back, the organic food movement is huge right now.
THANK you for your awesome website!! I found it via google today when I was searching Fruit Roll-ups Simply Fruit!
They sell them by the mother load at our Costco in Houston, TX.
(What a relief to know I am not the only one who has to occassionally sneak down the “Forbidden Aisle of Crap” at the grocery store to gain a few minutes of peace!)
The Sunkist fruit rolls every one is talking about are now sold under the name Jovy Fruit Roll. They are the same product with slightly different packaging (colors and logos mainly) and are still sold in the produce department of nearly all major supermarkets.
http://snackerrific.com/wp-content/snack-pictures/jovy_fruit_roll.jpg
The old Sunkist Fruit Roll was purchased by our company eight (8) years ago. We have improved the formula and packaging. It is now under the name of Jovy Fruit Roll.
All original six (6) flavors plus four (4)NEW flavors can be found at most major Supermarkets in the Produce Dept.
Sixto Morales
C.O.O.
Triunfo-Mex, Inc.
150 Russell Street
City of Industry, CA 91744
(626) 336-1305
YEAA i loveee these their amazinggg!!!!! i found a giant pack at target my kids love them, i pack them one for school every day:)