Start by checking the fat content, ingredients and storage instructions. Regular raisins or dried apricots can already be low in fat without carrying a reduced-fat claim. Compare sugar and calories per 100 g too. Soaked apricots that need to be refrigerated after opening are only practical if you can keep them at that temperature while camping.
You want a fruity snack that’s low in fat and are wondering whether you need a special reduced-fat version. Compare regular dried fruit with processed fruit crisps by looking at the ingredients and nutritional information. Product information from Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn shows why this comparison can vary from one product to another.
You’re looking for a snack whose storage instructions you can follow after opening too. A pack with a specific refrigeration requirement is only suitable if you can keep it at the stated temperature. Albert Heijn says its soaked apricots should be refrigerated after opening; Jumbo and PLUS give different storage instructions for the products reviewed.
You want something sweet, but don’t want to confuse low fat with low sugar or low calories. Pay attention to how much you eat and check whether sugar has been added to the ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than a handful of dried fruit with no added sugar.
First decide whether fat content or storage without a fridge matters most to you. Then compare sugar, ingredients, allergens and pack size.
The table groups shoppers according to their main priority when buying dried fruit for camping. Each row covers a different key need.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and claims | Compare fat per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission defines ‘low fat’ as no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. ‘Reduced’ or ‘light’ requires a comparison; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says the relevant nutrient must be reduced by at least 30%. | If I mainly want to eat less fat, I look at the nutritional information rather than just the name on the pack. Around 29% of shoppers make low fat their main purchase priority. |
| Storage without a fridge | Read the storage instructions for before and after opening. For the soaked apricots reviewed, Albert Heijn says to refrigerate after opening at a maximum of 7°C; Jumbo and PLUS say to store their products in a cool, dry, dark place. | If I’m staying at a campsite without a fridge, I want to choose a pack whose storage instructions I can follow. Around 24% of shoppers prioritise storage without a fridge. |
| Sugar and portion size | Compare sugar and energy per 100 g, and check the ingredients for added sugar. Jumbo lists 75,5 g of sugar per 100 g for the raisins reviewed; PLUS lists 53,4 g for the apricots reviewed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than a handful of dried fruit with no added sugar. | If I want to manage my sweet snack portions, I want to know how much sugar is in the amount I choose. Around 23% of shoppers make sugar and portion size their main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label on the pack you’re buying. Albert Heijn and PLUS list sulphites in the apricots reviewed; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority includes sulphites among the allergens that must be declared. | If I need to take a known sensitivity into account, I check the ingredients and allergen information before packing a snack. Around 12% of shoppers make a personal allergen requirement their main priority. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with how much you expect to use during your stay. The packs reviewed contain 250 g, 375 g or 500 g; after opening, follow the storage instructions for that particular product too. | If I’m taking snacks just for my own camping trip, I want an amount that suits the length of my stay. Around 12% of shoppers make a suitable pack size their main purchase priority. |
Fruit crisps can have a different composition from whole or dried fruit. The AH Banana Chips reviewed contain coconut oil and list 30 g of fat per 100 g.
Read the ingredients and compare fat per 100 g before choosing fruit crisps as a low-fat snack.
For AH Soaked Dried Apricots, Albert Heijn says to refrigerate after opening at a maximum of 7°C.
Choose this pack only if you can keep it at that temperature during your stay; a tent is no substitute for the specified refrigeration.
According to the product information, the Jumbo raisins reviewed contain 75,5 g of sugar per 100 g. So a low fat content doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains.
Compare sugar and energy separately, then decide for yourself how much to take or eat.
A claim might refer to fat or sugar and doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much energy the product contains.
Check what the claim refers to, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
The products reviewed include soaked dried apricots and sweetened banana chips, offering examples of different product types.
Jumbo Sun-Dried Sultana Raisins 500 g are an option to compare by checking the label and storage instructions.
PLUS Dried Apricots in a 375 g stand-up pouch are an apricot option with information about ingredients and storage.
Alesto is Lidl’s range of nuts and dried fruit.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s Sun-Dried Apricots in a 250 g pack.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Apricots in a 375 g pack.
The products below are dried fruit with a fat content per 100 g listed in the product information. Compare sugar, ingredients and storage instructions for each product too; none of these products has a verified reduced-fat claim.
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An option to compare if you’re looking for dried fruit with a fat content per 100 g listed in the product information.
The nutritional information provided lists 0 g of fat, 50 g of sugar and 327 kcal per 100 g. The description says to consume the product immediately after opening.
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Dried guava is an option if you’re looking for a snack that the product description says is ready to eat.
The nutritional information provided lists 1,73 g of fat per 100 g. The ingredients list includes guava, sugar and a preservative; the description recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and sealing the pack tightly after opening.
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This dried soursop is an option if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat snack and want to take the ingredients into account when choosing.
The nutritional information provided lists 2,21 g of fat, 72,6 g of sugar and 348 kcal per 100 g. The ingredients list includes sugar, glucose and sodium metabisulphite (INS 223); the description recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and sealing the pack tightly after opening.
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According to the product description, the pitted jujubes are ready to eat as a snack.
The nutritional information provided lists 0,5 g of fat, 60 g of sugar and 300 kcal per 100 g. The description recommends storing them in a cool, dry place, preferably below 15°C, and sealing the pack tightly after opening.
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These dried apricots are an option if you’re looking for a snack that the product description says is ready to eat.
The nutritional information provided lists 0 g of fat, 62 g of sugar and 311 kcal per 100 g. The ingredients list includes sugar, maltose syrup and sulphites; the description recommends storing them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
No. For solid foods, the European Commission defines the claim ‘low fat’ as no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. ‘Reduced’ refers to a comparison with a standard product; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says the relevant nutrient must be reduced by at least 30%. So assess these claims separately.
For AH Soaked Dried Apricots, Albert Heijn says to refrigerate after opening at a maximum of 7°C. A tent doesn’t meet this temperature requirement. These instructions apply to this specific product and not necessarily to all apricots.
Start with the nutritional information per 100 g, then compare the same measured quantity. Don’t treat one manufacturer’s portion size as a universal serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than a handful of dried fruit with no added sugar.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products; sulphites are among the allergens that must be declared. The Albert Heijn and PLUS apricots reviewed list sulphites.
No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean that the product contains no total sugars. Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the specific pack, and compare sugar per 100 g.
