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Consumer Information

Ingredients, Nutrition Facts & Shelf Life

The ingredient statement on a jar of maraschino cherries reads: Cherries, Water, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Natural & Artificial Flavor, Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate, FD&C Red #40, and sulfur dioxide.

When vacuum-sealed in a glass jar, the shelf life for maraschino cherries is three years unopened, and six months if opened and refrigerated.

About the Ingredients

The ingredient statement, as required by the FDA, reads in order of weight in the finished products, including the syrup. This means that in a jar of maraschino cherries, the cherry itself is the primary ingredient, sulfur dioxide is the least present, and the maraschino syrup is a blend of the liquid ingredients.

At Gray & Company, we occasionally hear from cherry lovers who are nonetheless concerned about the use of red dyes and preservatives. It is important to note that the preservative content, in total, is minute. The sulfur dioxide is a result of the brining process, and the amount in the finished product is 100 parts-per-million (ppm), or 1/100th of a percent. Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are added to inhibit the growth of bacteria and yeast. The Food & Drug Administration issues regulations on the use of such preservatives, and Gray & Company employs a staff of quality assurance professionals to ensure rigorous compliance. The total preservative content is approximately 1/8th of 1%.

To color its maraschino cherries, Gray & Company utilizes FD&C Red #40, a proven, safe, and FDA-approved food coloring. It is the same ingredient you’ll find in hundreds of products, from beverages to candy to cookies. In the early 1980s, red food dye received some negative attention as a possible carcinogen. Importantly, the coloring in question was FD&C Red #3, not Red #40. Of equal importance, the scientific evidence was inconclusive, and the FDA never placed a ban on Red #3. Some food companies nevertheless switched to Red #40 just to avoid the issue, but this was not not a concern at Gray & Company as we had been using Red #40 all along.

Maraschino cherries – a history lesson

Lessons from the orchard

How a maraschino is made

Ingredients, nutrition facts & shelf life