For a neighbourhood get-together, compare the energy content of equal portions and check the ingredients on the specific pack. Of the three products checked, Albert Heijn’s soaked apricots contain the least energy, at 182 kcal per 100 g. Under European Commission rules, none of the three can be labelled ‘low calorie’, as they all contain more than 40 kcal per 100 g.
You want to offer a sweet fruit snack and compare the energy in portions weighed to the same size, without treating ‘healthy’ as a substitute for nutritional information. The specific figures come from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS.
You want to check separately whether sugar has been added and which preservatives or allergens are listed on the pack. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS shows why these details deserve attention in their own right, alongside energy content.
You’re choosing how much to put on a sharing platter and want to check storage instructions after opening, possible stone fragments and the information you’ll need for your guests. Check the instructions on the specific pack.
First compare the energy content of equal portions, then consider ingredients, storage and how much you’ll need for your group.
A good choice if: you’re mainly looking for less energy in an equal-sized portion. Albert Heijn’s soaked apricots contain 182 kcal per 100 g, or 36.4 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion.
Worth noting: at 182 kcal per 100 g, they exceed the European Commission threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim. Once opened, store these apricots in the fridge at a maximum of 7 °C.
A good choice if: you specifically want this type of apricot. Jumbo lists 237 kcal per 100 g, or 47.4 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion.
Worth noting: Jumbo lists sulphites and possible traces of nuts, peanuts and sesame. The pack also warns that occasional stone fragments may be present.
A good choice if: you want to serve prunes. PLUS Dried Prunes contain 282 kcal per 100 g, or 56.4 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion.
Worth noting: the PLUS pack lists 0 g of added sugars, but also sunflower oil and the preservative E200. No added sugar doesn’t automatically mean less energy.
A good choice if: you deliberately want to offer a sweetened fruit option and have checked its ingredients.
Worth noting: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, dried fruit with added sugar isn’t included in the Wheel of Five. Compare the total energy content too, and treat it as a product with a different composition.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and use the same portion size; don’t use general nutritional values as a substitute for the label on a specific product. | I want to know how much energy I’m serving on the sharing platter, not just what’s in 100 g. That’s why around 42% of consumers prioritise calories per portion. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, total sugars and allergen information on the current pack separately. | I want to be able to check whether added sugar, sulphites or possible traces are relevant for me or my guests. Around 25% of consumers prioritise ingredients and allergens. |
| Serving and storage | Check the storage instructions for after opening and any warnings about stone fragments. | I want to be able to prepare the platter easily and know how to store an opened pack. Around 17% of consumers mainly choose based on how easy a product is to serve and store. |
| Quantity for the group | Compare the net weight with how much you need and check the current price per kilo. | I want to choose a pack that suits the group, so the quantity and cost work for us. Around 16% of consumers mainly consider pack size and cost. |
For solid foods, the European Commission sets the maximum for a ‘low calorie’ claim at 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The AH, Jumbo and PLUS products checked all exceed this, at 182, 237 and 282 kcal per 100 g respectively. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. This is a recommendation for your whole day, not a legally defined portion size for a get-together.
The threshold for the claim applies per 100 g, not per small portion. So a 20 g portion can have a lower kcal figure without the product meeting the ‘low calorie’ threshold.
Record the portion figure as calculated energy per 20 g, and keep it separate from the nutrition claim. For AH Soaked Dried Apricots, that’s 36.4 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion, while the pack lists 182 kcal per 100 g.
Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 37 g of total sugars per 100 g for its soaked apricots. PLUS lists 0 g of added sugars and 38.1 g of total sugars per 100 g; the products contain 182 and 282 kcal per 100 g respectively.
Check added sugars, total sugars and energy as separate figures on the pack.
General figures for prunes may not match the label on a particular supermarket product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 40 kcal per 20 g of prunes; based on its label, the PLUS pack comes to 56.4 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion.
Use the nutrition table on the pack you actually choose for your calculation.
Storage advice varies by product. AH Soaked Dried Apricots should be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening; Jumbo apricots and PLUS prunes should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
Check the instructions on the exact pack before opening it, and keep the packaging for product and allergen information.
AH Soaked Dried Apricots 250 g is a specific soaked variety you can compare by energy content for an equal-sized portion.
Jumbo Dried Pitted Apricots 250 g is an untreated variety of apricot.
Lidl sells Alesto as its own brand, including dried fruit, and lists apricots in the range.
ALDI describes Trader Joe’s Sun-Dried Prunes as soft, pitted dried plums.
PLUS Dried Prunes 375 g is a specific prune option with a larger net weight than the 250 g apricot packs checked.
Dirk sells 1 de Beste Apricots 375 g as its own-brand option in this product category.
This selection from Joybuy includes prunes and apricots, including varieties with added sugars. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the portion you want to serve.
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A sharing-friendly option if you’re considering prunes as a snack for your get-together; work out the nutritional values for the portion you’ll serve.
The product information lists 68 kcal per 100 g and 3.0 g of salt per 100 g. The ingredients list includes sugar and sweeteners. At 68 kcal per 100 g, the product doesn’t meet the threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim.
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An option if you’re looking for prunes to share; check the energy per portion and the ingredients before choosing.
The nutrition table lists 285 kcal per 100 g, or 57 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion. The ingredients list includes sugar and crystalline fructose. The product doesn’t meet the threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim.
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A good option if you want to share apricots; check the added ingredients and nutritional values for this variety.
The table lists 311 kcal per 100 g, or 62.2 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion. The ingredients list includes sugar and maltose syrup; the product contains sulphites. It doesn’t meet the threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim.
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An option if you want to serve dried apricots on your sharing platter; tailor the portion to the nutritional values on this pack.
The nutrition table lists 327 kcal per 100 g, or 65.4 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion. The ingredients list includes sugar and maltose syrup; the product contains sulphites. It doesn’t meet the threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim.
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A good option if you’re looking for prunes with no other listed ingredients and want a pack to share.
The ingredients list contains only dried prunes. The nutrition table lists 283 kcal per 100 g, or 56.6 kcal in a calculated 20 g portion. The product doesn’t meet the threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim.
No. For solid foods, the European Commission threshold for a ‘low calorie’ claim is a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g, not per small portion. The three AH, Jumbo and PLUS products checked are all above this threshold.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. Include any dried fruit you’ve already eaten that day in this amount; it’s nutritional advice, not a legally defined portion size.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack. AH Soaked Dried Apricots should be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening. The Jumbo apricots and PLUS prunes checked should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, and keep it with the platter. The AH and Jumbo apricots checked contain sulphites; Jumbo also lists possible traces of nuts, peanuts and sesame.
Yes. For its soaked apricots, Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 37 g of total sugars per 100 g. For its dried prunes, PLUS lists 0 g of added sugars and 38.1 g of total sugars per 100 g. Check both figures separately.
