Musselman's Chunky Applesauce

I'm a big fan of applesauce. Homemade or store-bought, big jars or individual cups, I really haven't found a kind I don't like yet. That being said, "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" is one of the best tasting kinds that I've tried.

We buy the individual cups of "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" for my husband to have in his lunch, but I've tried a couple of them. (I believe this type also comes in the larger jars but I will be reviewing the individual cups.) "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" comes in a package of 6 four ounce cups. The packaging is of a yellow that is similar to the product inside. The packaging tells of the merits of "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce". The top of the package tells of its convenience (which is a nice feature) and tells us that a cup of "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" provides one of the daily recommended servings of fruit. It also tells us that diets rich in fruits and veggies can reduce the risk of certain cancers and other chronic diseases. On the front there is a patriotic little red and white apple on a blue background that announces that "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" is made from "100% AMERICAN GROWN APPLES". Good to know, though I think they may be trying too hard.

The texture of "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" is really unique. It's halfway between being an apple sauce and diced apples. It's nicely spiced as well. (I think there's a bit of cinnamon, but the ingredients just say "spice".)

I am not sure of the nutritional merits of this applesauce. The calorie content is reasonable at 100 calories per serving. The fat content is nil. It had a small percentage (eight percent) of carbs, and a small percentage (eight percent) of fiber. I read a little more and . . .

here's where the disappointment lies. This product is loaded with sugar! Twenty one grams per serving! And when I read the ingredients I was disappointed to see that the second ingredient (after apples of course) is high fructose corn syrup. The third ingredient is corn syrup. (Then water, lemon juice, spice, and ascorbic acid.) I was sorry to see so much sweetener in what I'd assumed was a healthy product (Maybe that was why the package tried so hard!)

Now I know Musselman's makes some unsweetened sauces, so I won't condemn them as a company or their sauces in general. But this sauce is so tasty, I was sorry to see that I should probably relegate it to the role of infrequent dessert, rather than an everyday treat.

So while I recommend "Musselman's Chunky Applesauce" as a tasty treat, you should probably look elsewhere if you want a healthier sauce. Just shows you should always read labels!

Enjoy!