Meghan Markle’s Jam Gets Trashed By A Jam Expert (this is sad)

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00:00Did Meghan Markle's jam just get put in its place by a former MasterChef winner?

00:04Meghan Markle's runny apricot spread criticized by jam expert Donna Collins.

00:09Jam expert Donna Collins trashes Meghan Markle's as-ever apricot spread.

00:13The jam world is officially in a spread scandal,

00:16and it's all thanks to Meghan Markle's latest venture into the artisanal lifestyle space.

00:22Meghan's newly released apricot spread under her American Riviera Orchard brand

00:26may have sold out in record time, but not everyone is sweet on it.

00:31Jam connoisseur Donna Collins came out swinging against Meghan

00:35and labeled her fruit spread an epic disappointment.

00:38In fact, one world-renowned jam expert has some seriously tart things to say.

00:43Donna Collins, a self-described jam queen and founder of the award-winning Jelly Queens,

00:49didn't mince words when asked about Meghan's fruity offering.

00:53It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread,

00:56which is what you make when your jam fails, she told the Daily Mail.

01:00Yikes.

01:00Jam connoisseur Donna Collins came out swinging against Meghan

01:04and labeled her fruit spread an epic disappointment.

01:08To be clear, in the world of preserves, there's a big difference between jam and a spread.

01:13And according to Donna, who has over 40 championship wins under her belt,

01:18labeling something a spread is essentially code for a jam that didn't set properly.

01:23In the jam industry, a spread is what we call something that didn't work, Donna said.

01:29It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny,

01:33I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread.

01:35What seems to be especially frustrating for Donna is that, in her eyes, there's just no excuse for a

01:42high-profile product like this one to fall short.

01:45It should be perfect, she insisted, adding that even the use of pectin,

01:49an ingredient often used to help fruit mixtures gel, is questionable.

01:53Why is she using pectin unless it's because her spread was too runny?

01:58Most spreads don't use pectin.

02:00If that weren't enough, Donna also took issue with the fruit itself.

02:05She's using conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides, she noted.

02:10In the increasingly eco-conscious world of luxury food products,

02:13that's definitely not a small criticism.

02:15Despite the jam queen's skepticism, Meghan's apricot spread did fly off the virtual shelves,

02:21priced at $9 for the jar and $14 in limited edition keepsake packaging.

02:27Both versions sold out within minutes, mirroring the quick sellout of her earlier raspberry spread.

02:33But even that success came under scrutiny.

02:36Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread,

02:41which may mean they only made a small batch, Donna speculated.

02:44I don't know who's making her spread, but we all know it's not Meghan.

02:48It sounds like they really don't know what they are doing.

02:51Meghan Markle first teased her jam ambitions in 2024,

02:55when she sent out lemon-filled gift baskets, complete with homemade jam,

03:00to 50 of her nearest and dearest.

03:03It was part of the soft rollout for American Riviera Orchard,

03:06her lifestyle brand that includes a range of curated items

03:09that could have come straight out of a Montecito brunch dream.

03:12The brand's official debut in April 2025 featured more than just spreads.

03:17Fans also scooped up a limited-edition wildflower honey with actual honeycomb for $28,

03:23a charmingly packaged crepe mix for $14, shortbread cookies, sprinkled with edible flowers for $15,

03:30and herbal teas, hibiscus, peppermint, and lemon ginger for $12 each.

03:35All of these goodies were sold in small batches, and all of them sold out.

03:41Despite the criticism from jam traditionalists,

03:44it seems Meghan Markle's move into jam is only gaining steam.

03:48Reports from The Sun claim that she's eyeing expansion into the hospitality world,

03:52including hotels and restaurants. And if that's not enough domestic goddess energy,

03:57her Netflix show With Love, Meghan — a cozy, lifestyle-driven series — was just renewed for

04:03a second season, even after lukewarm reviews. That show gave fans a peek into Meghan's love of

04:08hosting and entertaining, and it's pretty clear that American Riviera Orchard is designed to reflect

04:13that same aesthetic — warm, elegant, California chic. Whether the apricot spread technically qualifies as a jam or not,

04:21the branding is pure gold. Still, not everyone is won over by the branding charm.

04:27For serious jam aficionados like Donna, the focus is still on the basics — texture, quality, and ingredients.

04:34While Meghan's products may be pretty to look at and perfectly giftable,

04:38Donna's comments serve as a reminder that when it comes to fruit preserves, looks aren't everything.

04:44So will the Duchess of Sussex respond to the sticky critique?

04:48So far, Meghan's camp hasn't commented. But if past patterns hold, it's likely she'll just keep

04:53whisking ahead. Small batches, big dreams, and all. One thing's for sure — when it comes to jam,

04:59the stakes are higher than you think. And Meghan's journey from palace life to pantry labels

05:04is proving to be just as dramatic as any royal storyline.

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