People keeping an eye on calories
You’re looking for an edible Father’s Day gift and want to know how much energy a weighed snack portion contains. Compare the nutrition information per 100 grams, then decide on the portion weight yourself.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People comparing ingredients
You pay attention to added sugar, total sugars and ingredients such as sulphites. Product information from Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn shows why it’s also important to check allergen warnings for each option.
People looking for a practical gift
You want to choose a type of fruit and pack size that suit what your dad likes to eat and can store. Check the net weight and storage instructions on the packaging.
What should you look for when buying?
When choosing a Father’s Day gift, first compare the energy content on the same weight basis. Then look at the ingredients, taste preferences and packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per snack portion | Compare kcal per 100 grams and weigh the portion you’re serving. | I want to know how much energy is in my weighed snack, not just what’s listed per 100 grams. Around 36% of consumers prioritise energy per portion. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Check the ingredients list, total sugars and allergen information separately. | If ingredients determine my choice, I also want to distinguish between added and total sugars. Around 29% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Taste and storage | Choose the type of fruit you want and check the storage instructions after opening. | I want to choose a type of fruit my dad enjoys and can store according to the packaging instructions. Around 21% of consumers prioritise taste and practicality. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and consider how many weighed portions you want to get from it. | I want a pack that suits the amount my dad will actually use, rather than treating the whole bag as one portion. Around 14% of consumers give the highest priority to choosing a suitable amount. |
Common buying mistakes
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Confusing a small portion with a low-calorie product
The limit for the ‘low calorie’ claim on solid foods applies per 100 grams, not per bowl. Serving a smaller portion doesn’t change the limit for the product claim.
Compare the energy per 100 grams, then work out the energy in the amount you want to serve. Don’t describe a product as low calorie if it doesn’t meet the requirements for the claim.
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘low in sugar’
PLUS product information lists 0 grams of added sugars and 53.4 grams of total sugars per 100 grams. These figures describe different things.
Check the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information separately.
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Treating the gift bag as one snack portion
A pack weight, such as 250 or 375 grams, is the amount in the bag and not automatically one portion.
Decide how much you’ll serve in advance and store the rest according to the instructions on the packaging.
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Assuming all dried fruit has the same storage instructions
The AH Gewelde dried apricots reviewed here must be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening. This instruction doesn’t automatically apply to other options.
If you’re giving the fruit as a gift, make sure the original storage and allergen information is available.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The AH options reviewed include soaked dried apricots and organic dried plums.
- Albert Heijn lists 182 kcal per 100 grams for its soaked apricots; according to the product information, the plums contain plums and water.
- The apricots contain sulphites. According to the packaging, the plums may contain peanuts and nuts; the soaked apricots must be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening.
Jumbo
The regular pitted dried apricots are an option to compare if you want to weigh out the portion yourself.
- Jumbo lists 237 kcal per 100 grams and no sugar as an added ingredient in the option reviewed.
- The apricots contain sulphites and, according to Jumbo, may also contain nuts, peanuts and sesame. An organic option found previously isn’t presented here as a current online option.
Lidl
Lidl lists dried fruit, including apricots, under its Alesto brand.
- The brand description mentions Alesto products as snacks and toppings.
- This general description doesn’t provide evidence of the nutritional value or any calorie advantage of a specific option.
ALDI
ALDI describes TRADER JOE’S Sun-Dried Apricots in a 250-gram pack.
- ALDI’s product description says the apricots are soft.
- This product description alone says nothing about a calorie advantage; check the nutrition information on the packaging.
PLUS
The PLUS Dried Apricots reviewed are sold in a 375-gram stand-up pouch.
- PLUS lists 254 kcal per 100 grams and 0 grams of added sugars for this option.
- The same product information lists 53.4 grams of total sugars per 100 grams and identifies sulphites in the ingredient information.
Dirk
Dirk sells 1 de Beste Apricots in a 375-gram pack; 1 de Beste is Dirk’s own brand.
- Dirk describes the apricots as soft and suitable for snacking or breakfast.
- This retailer description isn’t an independent assessment of calories or taste.
Dried fruit at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are dried apricots and dried strawberry slices. Compare the listed kcal per 100 grams and ingredients with the amount you want to serve; none of the three meets the European low-calorie limit for solid foods.
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Three Squirrels Red Apricot Dried, 250g
If you’re comparing apricots for a weighed snack, you can use the listed energy per 100 grams.
Joybuy product information lists 311 kcal per 100 grams and ingredients including sugar and maltose syrup. The apricots contain sulphites. According to the European Commission, 311 kcal per 100 grams is above the maximum of 40 kcal per 100 grams for the ‘low calorie’ claim on solid foods.
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Be&Cheery Dried Red Apricots 300g
If you want to compare red dried apricots, check the nutrition information per 100 grams and weigh your portion.
Joybuy product information lists 327 kcal per 100 grams and ingredients including sugar and maltose syrup. According to the European Commission, this is above the maximum of 40 kcal per 100 grams for the ‘low calorie’ claim on solid foods.
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MUSHAN BASE Dried Strawberry Slices 50g
If you’d prefer dried strawberry slices, compare the energy per 100 grams and check the ingredients too.
Joybuy product information lists 313 kcal per 100 grams; the ingredients are dried strawberries and sugar. According to the European Commission, this is above the maximum of 40 kcal per 100 grams for the ‘low calorie’ claim on solid foods.
Frequently asked questions
Can these products be described as ‘low calorie’ in the Netherlands?
No, not based on the nutrition information listed. According to the European Commission, the ‘low calorie’ claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 grams; the options reviewed are above this limit. Serving a smaller portion doesn’t change the limit for the product claim.
How do I compare the energy in a snack portion?
Use the kcal per 100 grams and weigh the portion you want to serve. Multiply the kcal per 100 grams by the portion weight in grams, then divide the result by 100. This lets you compare portions on the same weight basis.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean it contains little sugar?
No, that wording doesn’t tell you how much total sugar the product contains. For example, PLUS product information lists 0 grams of added sugars and 53.4 grams of total sugars per 100 grams. So check both the ingredients and the nutrition information.
Does all dried fruit need to be refrigerated after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the exact product packaging. The AH Gewelde dried apricots reviewed here must be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C after opening; for its regular apricots, Jumbo advises storing them in a cool, dry, dark place.
What should I check if someone is sensitive to sulphites or nuts?
Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging for the exact option. The regular AH, Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed contain sulphites; the AH plums state that they may contain peanuts and nuts. This information isn’t a personal assessment of suitability.