Some eye-catching canning jars are inappropriate for food preservation.  

If you’ve been travelling the aisles at the local crafts store or shopping online for canning supplies, you may have come across some eye-catching canning jars in vivid colors, including red, cobalt, amethyst and even black. They generally come with a sticker on the bottom that says they’re for crafting use only, but if you’ve only seen them on the internet, beware: There’s at least one seller out there that is claiming that they are “ideal for preserving.” They are not.

They look like real Ball® jars, and in fact they may be. But they have had paint applied to them, making them inappropriate for food preservation. Use these jars for crafting purposes only.

Note that this does not apply to the lovely green, purple, amber, and blue jars from Ball’s special collections of jars, such as the American Heritage and Collection Elite color series. These canning jars are made of actual colored glass and are food safe. The colors make a wonderful presentation of your canned goods, especially for holiday gift-giving. 

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that many county and state fairs require that entries of canned goods be submitted in clear glass canning jars. So if you are planning on submitting your preserves to a fair, (and we very much encourage you to do so!), be sure to check the fair entry guide and plan accordingly

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Brought to you by the UC Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County

Last updated July 2025