If you’re keeping an eye on your energy intake when choosing dried fruit for an afternoon snack, weigh the portion you want first, then use the nutritional information on the exact pack. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 26 kcal for a generic 9-gram dried apricot. A small portion doesn’t automatically make a product low in calories: check the ingredients too, and follow the storage instructions for the specific product.
If you fancy something sweet and want to factor its energy content into your afternoon snack, the weight of your portion and the nutritional information on the exact pack are useful things to check. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides generic nutritional values for dried apricots; these don’t automatically apply to a specific supermarket product.
If you want to know whether a fruit snack contains sugar, syrup or preservatives, check the ingredients list on the product you’re buying. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that sweetened dried fruit isn’t included in the Wheel of Five. A claim such as ‘no preservatives’ tells you something different from the energy content.
If you’ll be using a pack over several afternoons or taking your snack with you, check the storage instructions for the specific product. Albert Heijn advises keeping its soaked dried apricots refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening; the product then has a limited shelf life.
Weigh the portion you actually want to eat and use the nutritional information on the exact pack. That way, you can compare the amount you’ve chosen rather than just product names or pack sizes.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Weigh your portion and calculate the kcal per portion using the nutritional information per 100 grams. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 26 kcal for a generic 9-gram dried apricot; don’t use this as the product specification for a different pack. | If you mainly want to know how much energy your afternoon snack provides, compare the amount you’ve weighed with the label. Around 38% of consumers rank energy per portion as their top purchasing priority. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list and check sugars, any syrup, preservatives and allergens separately. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. | If you want to know what else is in your snack besides fruit, check the ingredients of the exact product. Around 23% of consumers put ingredients first. |
| Storage after opening | Check the storage temperature and shelf life on the pack. Once opened, AH Soaked Dried Apricots should be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C and have a limited shelf life. | If you want to keep the pack at work or somewhere else you spend your afternoons, you’ll need to be able to follow the instructions there. Around 23% of consumers say storage and taking snacks with them are their main considerations. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with the amount you’ll use over several afternoons. The official product pages list 250 grams for ALDI Sun-Dried Apricots and 375 grams for PLUS Dried Apricots. | If you’re looking for enough to last several afternoons, think of pack size separately from your own snack portion. Around 16% of consumers put the quantity they’re buying first. |
The World Cancer Research Fund recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. This is dietary advice, not a legal product requirement, and it doesn’t guarantee that every portion provides the same amount of energy.
A smaller portion contains less product, but that doesn’t prove the product itself meets the criteria for a low-calorie claim. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 26 kcal for a generic 9-gram dried apricot; nutrition claims are covered by European rules.
Weigh your portion and calculate its energy content using the nutritional information on the exact pack. Don’t use the portion size as proof of a claim about the product.
A claim such as ‘no preservatives’ doesn’t answer whether sugar or syrup has been added. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that sweetened dried fruit isn’t included in the Wheel of Five.
Check added ingredients, total sugars, preservatives and allergens separately on the label of the exact product.
Storage instructions vary by product. Albert Heijn says its soaked dried apricots should be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening and notes that they have a limited shelf life.
Read the instructions before buying and check that you can follow them wherever you plan to store the pack.
The product information for AH Soaked Dried Apricots gives specific storage instructions for after opening.
Jumbo lists Organic Dried Apricots 250 g for shoppers who want to consider organic sourcing and ingredients separately.
Lidl offers dried fruit, including dried mango strips, under the Alesto range.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s Sun-Dried Apricots in a 250-gram pack.
PLUS lists Dried Apricots in a 375-gram stand-up pouch.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Apricots in a 375-gram pack; 1 de Beste is Dirk’s own brand.
These Joybuy products are dried fruit options for anyone who wants to assess an afternoon snack based on their own portion size. Compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the exact pack; the product listing doesn’t make a low-calorie claim in itself.
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A good option if you like dried dates as a snack; assess the energy content based on the portion you have.
The product information lists 100% dried dates and recommends sealing the pack well after opening.
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According to the product information, these individually wrapped prunes are intended as a snack on the go; choose your portion based on the nutritional information.
The ingredients list prunes, fructose syrup and oligofructose. The product information gives the energy content per 100 g.
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The product information describes these dried apricots as a snack; decide for yourself how much to eat.
The ingredients list apricot, sugar, maltose syrup and sulphites. The product information gives the energy content per 100 g.
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The product information describes these dried apricots as a snack; use the nutritional information on the pack to work out your chosen portion.
The ingredients list apricot, sugar, maltose syrup and sulphites. The product information gives the energy content per 100 g.
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The product information describes these dried strawberries as a snack; keep the portion size and nutritional information on the pack in mind.
The ingredients list dried strawberries and sugar. The product information gives the energy content per 100 g.
The World Cancer Research Fund recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. This is daily dietary advice, not a legal limit, and it doesn’t guarantee that every 20-gram portion contains the same amount of energy.
No. The 26 kcal for a 9-gram dried apricot listed by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre is a generic nutritional value. For your purchase, use the nutritional information and portion weight on the exact pack; product information can change.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack. AH Soaked Dried Apricots should be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening and have a limited shelf life. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other products.
Check the allergen information on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority identifies sulphites as an allergen that consumers must be informed about; for pre-packed products, allergen information must appear on the label.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that nutrition claims must comply with European rules. Weighing out a small portion doesn’t in itself prove that the product meets the criteria for a low-calorie claim.
