If you’re looking for a lower-fat festival snack, compare the fat per 100 g as well as the amount you’ll actually eat. For solid foods, the European Commission defines ‘low fat’ as no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. Meeting this threshold does not prove that a product meets the separate ‘reduced fat’ claim. Check the sugar content, portion size and storage instructions on the specific pack too.
You want dried fruit as a snack and are mainly checking the fat content. Compare the sugar content too, and consider your own portion: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that dried fruit is high in sugar.
You’re bringing fruit with you and want to know the storage conditions specified on the exact pack. Some varieties need to be refrigerated after opening, so follow the label.
You want to divide the contents into suitable portions and keep the ingredient information with the snacks. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for pre-packed products must be shown on the label.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat, sugar and portions | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then decide how much you’ll have as a snack. Don’t treat ‘low fat’ as proof of a ‘reduced fat’ claim. | If I’m looking for a low-fat snack at a festival, I also want to know how much sugar it contains and how much I’ll eat. Around 36% of consumers put nutritional content first. |
| Storage while you’re out | Read the instructions for unopened and opened packs, and plan for refrigeration if the label requires it. | When I take a snack with me and don’t have a reliable place to keep it cool, I want to know in advance what the label says about storage. For around 29% of consumers, storage while out is the top priority. |
| Quantity for a group | Match the net weight to the number of snacks you need, and compare portions on the same basis. | If I’m buying for several visitors, I want to be able to divide the contents easily. Around 21% of consumers put quantity for a group and portioning first. |
| Ingredients and sensitivities | Check the current label for ingredients, allergens and warnings about possible traces. | If someone in the group needs to take a particular sensitivity into account, I want to be able to check the information on that exact pack. For around 14% of consumers, suitability is the top priority. |
A low fat content doesn’t tell you how much sugar or energy a portion contains. For dried fruit with no added sugar, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having no more than a handful.
Check fat, sugar and energy side by side, and decide in advance how much you want to take with you.
AH Soaked Dried Apricots must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7 °C. The Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed say to store in a cool, dry, dark place.
Follow the storage instructions on the exact variety you have, and arrange refrigeration if it’s needed after opening.
AH lists a serving size of 50 g for its soaked apricots, while Jumbo also gives nutritional values for apricots per 20 g. These portions aren’t directly comparable.
Compare values per 100 g first, then recalculate them for the same quantity.
A Joybuy Netherlands product page describes a bundle containing various nut products and banana chips made with coconut oil and sugar. So the bundle name alone doesn’t tell you what each item contains or how much fat it has.
Check the individual products, ingredients and nutritional information before comparing a bundle with plain dried fruit.
Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for soaked dried apricots.
Worth considering for pitted dried apricots and sun-dried sultanas.
Worth considering if you want to buy dried apricots in a 375 g pack.
The Alesto range includes nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.
The range includes, among other products, Trader Joe’s sun-dried apricots and sultanas.
The product search results include different types of dried fruit in a range of pack sizes.
No. For solid foods, the European Commission defines ‘low fat’ as no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g; meeting this threshold doesn’t prove that a product meets the separate ‘reduced fat’ claim. Assess that claim against its specific conditions and the product information.
No. A low fat content isn’t a reason to ignore how much you eat. For dried fruit with no added sugar, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having no more than a handful because it’s high in sugar. The serving size on the pack isn’t automatically the same as this recommendation.
It depends on the exact variety. AH Soaked Dried Apricots must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7 °C; the Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed say to store in a cool, dry, dark place. Follow the label on your pack.
First decide how many snacks you need and how much you want to put in each one. Then compare the net weight and nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g, as the labels reviewed use different serving sizes.
Check the current label on the specific pack. The AH, Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed list sulphites; the Jumbo apricots reviewed also carry a warning about possible traces of nuts, peanuts and sesame. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information for pre-packed products must be shown on the label.
