Compare dried fruit by its energy per 100 g and by the amount you’ll actually eat: none of the four supermarket products checked meets the threshold for a ‘low-calorie’ claim. The rehydrated apricots we looked at contain less energy than the prunes for the same weight, but they need to be kept chilled after opening. So choose based on whether you can follow the storage advice on the day of the festival, too.
You want to take a sweet snack with you and compare the energy in a weighed portion, rather than relying on words such as organic or unsweetened. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day; this is dietary advice, not a legal limit.
You want to take fruit with you that you can store according to its instructions while you’re out and about. Check the difference between storing in a cool, dry place and an explicit requirement to refrigerate after opening.
You want to avoid certain ingredients or take sulphites, peanuts or nuts into account. Check the information on the exact pack, as the type of fruit alone doesn’t tell you enough.
First compare the nutritional values for the same amount, then check whether you can follow the storage advice during the festival.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in your portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and work out how much that is for the weight you’ll eat. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for a ‘low-calorie’ claim. | If I want to weigh my snack portion, I look at the energy in that portion, not just the packaging. Around 36% of consumers put the energy in a portion first. |
| Storing it while you’re out | Read the instructions for before and after opening. Albert Heijn says to refrigerate the rehydrated apricots after opening, at a maximum of 7 °C; other products may have different instructions on the label. | If you won’t have access to a fridge, you’ll want to know in advance whether you can follow the advice on the day of the festival or at the campsite. Around 29% of consumers prioritise being able to store a product appropriately. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, added sugars, allergen information and precautionary warnings separately. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains the rules for allergen information on pre-packed food. | If certain ingredients or allergens are a deciding factor for me, I check the exact packaging before choosing. Around 21% of consumers put ingredients or allergens first. |
| Quantity and packaging | Choose a pack size based on how much you want to take and share; for example, 375 g at PLUS and 500 g at Jumbo. | If you want to take enough without buying more than you need, weigh the pack size against how much you plan to use. Around 14% of consumers prioritise the quantity they buy and the cost. |
The threshold for the nutrition claim is assessed per 100 g, not on the basis of a small portion you choose yourself.
Compare the nutrition information per 100 g and describe a smaller amount as a portion, not as proof that the product is low in calories.
Storage instructions can change after opening. Albert Heijn’s rehydrated apricots need to be kept chilled at a maximum of 7 °C.
Only choose a product if you can follow all its storage instructions on the day of your festival.
These words don’t replace the nutrition information and don’t tell you, on their own, how much energy a portion contains.
Assess energy, ingredients and allergens separately.
A larger pack may contain several portions, so you’ll need to plan how to store it and what to do with any leftovers.
Decide in advance how much you want to take, and follow the pack’s storage instructions for the rest.
Relevant options include rehydrated apricots and pitted dried prunes.
The own-brand pitted prunes we checked come in a 500 g bag.
Lidl offers dried fruit, including apricots, in its Alesto range.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s sun-dried pitted prunes in a 250 g pack.
PLUS lists dried prunes in a 375 g pack.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste pitted prunes in a 375 g pack.
These Joybuy picks are dried fruit snacks to take with you. Compare the stated energy per 100 g with the portion you plan to eat; for solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for a ‘low-calorie’ claim.
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An option if you’re looking for prunes with a short ingredients list to take as a snack.
The listed ingredient is prunes; the stated energy is 224 kcal per 100 g.
The storage advice is to keep in a cool, dry place.
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A dried plum snack to take with you; check the ingredients if you’re keeping an eye on sugar or salt.
The stated energy is 68 kcal per 100 g. The ingredients information lists white sugar and sweeteners; the salt content is 3,0 g per 100 g.
The storage advice is to keep in a cool, dry place.
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A snack option if you’re looking for raisins that are ready to eat.
The ingredients information lists red currant raisins as the only ingredient; the stated energy is 330 kcal per 100 g.
The storage advice is to keep in a cool, dry place.
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A pack of dried prunes that you can divide into snack portions.
The stated energy is 283 kcal per 100 g, and the ingredients information lists dried prunes.
The storage advice is to keep in a cool, dry place.
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A snack option if you’d like to take dried strawberry slices with you.
The stated energy is 313 kcal per 100 g; the ingredients information lists strawberries and sugar.
The storage advice is to keep in a cool, dry place.
Not just because the portion is small. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for the claim; choosing a smaller snack portion doesn’t change that threshold.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g a day. This is dietary advice, not a legal consumption limit; add together the amounts you have at different snack times.
First compare the kcal per 100 g, then work out how much that is for the weight you’ll eat. This lets you compare like for like, even if the packs suggest different portion sizes.
It depends on the product, so follow the label. Albert Heijn says to refrigerate its rehydrated apricots after opening at a maximum of 7 °C; other products may have different storage advice.
Check the ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information on the exact pack. No added sugar doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars; the NVWA explains what allergen information must appear on pre-packed food. Also read any warnings about possible traces.
