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‘No excuse’: Meghan Markle’s As Ever fruit spread savaged by MasterChef star

Meghan Markle’s latest venture has been savaged by a food critic who has labelled her attempt at jam a major “disappointment”.

The queen of jam has spoken.

Jam expert Donna Collins trashed the new apricot spread from Meghan Markle’s As Ever lifestyle brand.

“It’s a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails,” Collins said, according to the Daily Mail.

“In the jam industry a spread is what we call something that didn’t work,” the Jelly Queens owner continued. “It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I’d slap a label on it and call it a spread.”

“There’s no excuse for this,” Collins added. “It should be perfect.”

Meghan Markle recently launched a new fruit spread. Picture: Supplied.
Meghan Markle recently launched a new fruit spread. Picture: Supplied.
The As Ever range has been savaged by a MasterChef star. Picture: Supplied
The As Ever range has been savaged by a MasterChef star. Picture: Supplied

The MasterChef alum, who has reportedly won over 40 world championship honors in jam-making competitions, also called out Markle, 43, for her “conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides.” “And why is she using pectin, which is a gelling agent, unless it’s because her spread was too runny?” Collins asked. “Most spreads don’t use pectin.”

On Friday, Markle released her new apricot spread in an individual jar for $9 and keepsake packaging for $14. Both items quickly sold out.

“Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread, which may mean they only made a small batch,” Collins surmised.

Meghan Markle has released some new items in her As Ever range. Picture: Supplied
Meghan Markle has released some new items in her As Ever range. Picture: Supplied

“I don’t know who’s making her spread,” the jam guru continued, “but we all know it’s not Meghan. It sounds like they really don’t know what they are doing.”

The Post has reached out to Markle’s reps for comment.

Markle revealed her plans to sell homemade jam after announcing her own lifestyle company last year.

The royal even sent out lemon-filled gift baskets containing fresh fruit jam to 50 of her friends last summer.

She ended up releasing fruit spread instead of jam as part of the official launch of her lifestyle brand in April.

The other products (which also all sold out) included a limited-edition $28 wildflower honey with honeycomb, $12 herbal teas (hibiscus, peppermint and lemon ginger), $14 crepe mix and shortbread cookies with $15 flower sprinkles.

Earlier this month, The Sun reported that Markle is looking to add hotels and restaurants to her brand.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as ‘No excuse’: Meghan Markle’s As Ever fruit spread savaged by MasterChef star

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/no-excuse-meghan-markles-as-ever-fruit-spread-savaged-by-masterchef-star/news-story/ed1d40fa44d36cf520e23bcbc80b8ce2