Office snackers watching their fat intake
You’re looking for dried fruit that’s low in fat, but you also want to consider the sugar and energy values per portion.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People managing the office snack tin
You’re choosing between making up portions yourself, handing out individual boxes and buying products with different storage instructions.
Teams that check labels
You want colleagues to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in their chosen variety. If someone needs to avoid sulphites, pay particular attention to the label.
What should you check when buying?
For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim. This threshold says nothing about sugar or energy and, on its own, does not prove a reduction compared with another product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Compare the fat per 100 g on the label of the exact variety. A low absolute value is not proof of a ‘reduced fat’ claim. | If I mainly want to assess the fat content, I check the nutrition table rather than just the product name. Around 33% of consumers put fat content at the top of their list. |
| Portion, sugar and energy | Compare the values per 100 g and per the portion that will actually be served. | I want to know how much is in a snack portion, because low fat doesn’t automatically mean low sugar or energy. Around 27% of consumers give portion size and nutritional values top priority. |
| Storage and serving | Pay particular attention to what’s required after opening, and adjust the amount in the snack tin accordingly. | For me, the supply needs to suit the available storage and the time colleagues will eat the snack. Around 27% of consumers prioritise keeping stock management simple. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, and keep it if you decant the fruit. | If someone in the team needs to avoid an ingredient such as sulphites, I want to be able to check the ingredients in that exact variety. Around 13% of consumers put ingredient and allergen information at the top of their list. |
Common mistakes
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Taking ‘low fat’ to mean a small snack
A low fat content doesn’t automatically mean a portion is low in sugar or energy; the amount you put out also determines how much someone eats.
Check fat, sugar and energy side by side, and think carefully about how much you put in the snack tin.
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Treating an opened soaked variety like a dry store-cupboard product
AH Soaked Dried Apricots must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C, and then have a limited shelf life.
Follow the storage advice for the exact variety, and keep the rest refrigerated if the pack says to.
If your available storage doesn’t suit the storage advice, some of the supply may go unused. Match the amount you put out to the storage space and snack time.
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Throwing away the pack after filling the snack tin
Colleagues will no longer be able to check the ingredients and allergens in the chosen variety.
Keep the pack, or make sure the information remains available with the supply. Don’t assume that all dried apricots have the same ingredients.
Brands and product ranges as a guide
Albert Heijn
The product ranges mentioned include raisins and soaked dried apricots.
- AH Raisins lists 0.5 g of fat per 100 g and advises storing in a cool, dark, dry place.
- AH Soaked Dried Apricots must be refrigerated after opening, so storage instructions vary by variety.
Jumbo
The raisin products mentioned include a bag of blue raisins and boxes of individual portions.
- The box contains 14 portions of 14 g each.
- Jumbo warns that a stem or stone may remain despite checks; a small pack doesn’t prevent this.
PLUS
PLUS Dried Apricots is sold in a 375 g stand-up pouch.
- The product information lists 0.5 g of fat per 100 g and advises storing in a cool, dry, dark place.
- This variety contains sulphites; other PLUS products won’t necessarily have the same ingredients.
ALDI
The product description mentions Trader Joe’s Sun-Dried Apricots, 250 g.
- The description says the apricots are soft.
- That product description does not substantiate a low fat claim or provide an independent taste assessment.
Lidl
The dried fruits mentioned are described as varieties with blueberries and cherries.
- The product information makes the fruit varieties mentioned easy to identify.
- The product page says they’re sold in selected stores; the description does not substantiate a low fat claim.
Dirk
The range overview lists several types, including sultanas, golden raisins, apricots and pitted prunes.
- The overview makes it easy to find different types of fruit side by side.
- A position in search results is not a quality ranking or proof of sales volume.
Dried fruit on Joybuy
These products are options for office snacks, but not every variety meets the threshold for the ‘low fat’ claim. So compare the fat per 100 g for the exact product, and check the ingredients and storage instructions too.
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OHLA dried soursop 180 g
An option if you want to compare the fat and sugar values before preparing portions.
The product information lists 2.21 g of fat and 72.6 g of sugars per 100 g.
The ingredients list includes white sugar, glucose and sodium metabisulphite (INS 223). Seal well or refrigerate after opening.
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Haoxiangni pitted jujubes 500 g
The larger pack may suit you if you want to prepare portions yourself for the office supply.
The product information lists 0.5 g of fat per 100 g and a pack size of 500 g.
According to the description, the product is made from 100% red dates. Store in a cool, dry place and seal the pack well after opening.
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Haoxiangni Dr.Jujube Premium Gold-Grade Pitted 390 g
The description says it’s ready to eat, making it suitable for serving without any preparation.
The nutrition information lists 0 g of fat per 100 g, and the pack contains 390 g.
The instructions say to consume the product immediately after opening.
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De Kleine Keuken Organic raisins 12M+ 140 g
The individual boxes may suit you if you want to portion the snacks in advance.
The pack contains 10 boxes of 14 g each.
The product description says it’s suitable for babies over 12 months; check whether this variety is right for the intended users.
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OHLA dried dragon fruit 180 g
You can only assess this variety by considering the fat content on the exact pack.
The nutrition table lists 3.75 g of fat per 100 g, above the threshold set by the European Commission for the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods.
Seal well after opening; the description says to store in a cool, dry place.
Frequently asked questions
Is low fat dried fruit also low in sugar?
No, that doesn’t follow from the fat content. AH lists 0.5 g of fat and 59 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Raisins; assess these nutritional values separately.
How much dried fruit can you put out as a snack?
The Voedingscentrum recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. This is general dietary advice, not a legal limit or a requirement to give every colleague the same amount.
Can every type of dried apricot be kept in an unrefrigerated snack tin all the time?
Follow the storage advice for the exact variety. AH Soaked Dried Apricots must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C; PLUS Dried Apricots should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
What should you do with allergen information when buying for colleagues?
Keep the packaging so colleagues can check the ingredients and allergens. The NVWA sets out allergen information requirements for professional food businesses selling packaged and unpackaged foods; those requirements don’t automatically apply to every informal office supply.
When can a solid food carry the ‘low fat’ claim?
The European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods. This is a condition for making the claim, not proof of weight loss or a recommended daily fat intake.