When choosing dried fruit for a calorie-conscious picnic, check the nutritional information for the exact product and weigh your portion in advance; a small portion does not make the product itself low in calories. Jumbo lists 237 kcal per 100 g for its 250 g Pitted Dried Apricots, while Jumbo and PLUS list 282 kcal per 100 g for their prunes. According to the European Commission, the ‘low energy’ claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day as dietary guidance, not a legal limit.
Want to take something sweet with you and find out how much energy your portion provides? Compare the nutritional information for the exact product and weigh your portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides general dietary information; product labels from retailers such as Jumbo and PLUS are the authority for the specific pack.
Want to avoid added sugar, or do you need to check for sulphites, nuts or peanuts? Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. For example, Jumbo lists sulphites for the apricot product mentioned here, and possible traces of nuts and peanuts for the prune product.
Want to portion out snacks in advance and store the rest of the pack properly? Follow the storage advice on the label. For other picnic foods that would normally be kept chilled, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a cool bag.
First compare the energy per 100 g for the exact product, then decide how much you actually want to take with you. Also check the ingredients, allergens and storage advice.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Check the kcal per 100 g and weigh your own portion; the energy in a portion does not qualify as a low-energy product claim. | If I want to know how much energy is in my weighed picnic snack, I compare the label with my portion size. Around 39% of consumers prioritise the energy content of a portion. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, total and added sugars, and allergen information for the exact product. | If you want to avoid added sugar or need to check an allergen warning, the pack matters more than the product name alone. Around 23% of consumers give ingredients and allergens the highest priority. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Check the pack weight, storage advice and instructions for after opening; keep products that would normally be chilled cool. | If I want to portion out snacks in advance and take them with me safely, I check the packaging and storage instructions. Around 23% of consumers prioritise taking food with them and storing it. |
| Pack size | Compare the weight with the amount you need and consider how you will store any leftovers. | For a picnic with several snack breaks, I want a pack that’s easy to divide up, rather than treating the whole bag as one portion. Around 15% of consumers prioritise quantity and pack value. |
The percentages reflect the four different purchasing priorities for this picnic choice. They are not a measured market breakdown. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal per 100 g for the ‘low energy’ claim; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to European rules on nutrition claims.
For solid foods, the ‘low energy’ claim is assessed per 100 g, not on the basis of a small portion you have chosen yourself. So a portion may contain less energy without the product meeting the requirements for the claim.
Compare the energy per 100 g of the exact product, and describe a weighed amount as a portion—not as proof that the product is low in calories. The European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal per 100 g for solid foods.
General information about dried prunes may not match the label on a specific supermarket product. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 40 kcal per 20 g of dried prunes, while the Jumbo and PLUS labels for the prune products mentioned here work out at 56.4 kcal per 20 g.
When shopping, use the nutritional table on the exact pack and compare portions at the same weight.
PLUS prunes list 0 g of added sugars, but also 38.1 g of total sugars per 100 g. These are different figures; no added sugar does not automatically mean low in total sugars or low in energy.
Read the ingredients and nutritional table separately, then decide how much you want to take with you.
The Jumbo packs mentioned here contain 250 g, while the PLUS bag contains 375 g. That’s more than one weighed snack portion.
Decide in advance how much you want to eat or share, and store the rest according to the label. Otherwise, taking a larger amount with you may lead to eating more or having leftovers.
In its dried fruit category, Albert Heijn lists products including soaked dried apricots and products with or without nuts.
Jumbo provides product information for its 250 g Pitted Dried Apricots and 250 g Pitted Dried Prunes.
Lidl lists Alesto Dried Mango in a 125 g pack. The product page says it is available in store only.
ALDI lists TRADER JOE’S Sun-Dried Prunes in a 250 g pack and describes them as soft, pitted prunes.
PLUS lists Dried Prunes Per Bag 375 g. The label includes information about energy, sugars and storage.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Pitted Prunes in a 375 g pack and gives the own-brand name for this product.
These Joybuy products are dried fruit and prune snacks you can take along to a picnic. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the exact pack; the product names alone don’t tell you how much energy a portion provides.
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A raisin snack to take with you. The product information recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and closing the pack after opening.
The ingredients list states that it contains 99.5% raisins and sunflower oil.
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The individual portions can be handy if you want to divide raisins between snack times in advance.
The product information lists 10 boxes of 14 g, with no added sugars or sulphites. Suitable from 12 months; not suitable for children with swallowing difficulties. Supervise children while they eat.
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The 90 g pack is described as portable and suitable for sharing; weigh out a portion if you want to limit how much you eat.
The ingredients list includes plum, white sugar, salt and sweeteners. Check the nutritional table on the exact pack before comparing energy content.
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This 430 g pack of prunes is described as suitable for sharing; the product information recommends using the contents soon after opening.
The product information lists 283 kcal per 100 g. Use this figure for this product only, and compare portions at the same weight.
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A ready-to-eat prune snack in a 280 g pack. Check the portion you want and the storage instructions on the pack.
The ingredients list includes white sugar and crystalline fructose. Check the label if you want to avoid added sugars.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day. Weigh your portion in advance and include any dried fruit you eat at other times; this is dietary guidance, not a legal limit.
General nutritional information may not describe the exact product you buy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 40 kcal per 20 g of dried prunes; the Jumbo and PLUS labels for the products mentioned work out at 56.4 kcal per 20 g. Use the information on the exact pack when shopping.
Follow the storage advice on the pack; the Jumbo and PLUS products mentioned recommend storing them in a cool, dry, dark place. If you’re also taking foods that normally belong in the fridge, use a cool bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing away these chilled products if they have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
No. PLUS prunes list 0 g of added sugars and 38.1 g of total sugars per 100 g. Read the ingredients and nutritional table separately, then decide on your portion.
Check the allergen information on the exact pack. Jumbo’s 250 g Pitted Dried Apricots list E220 and sulphites; don’t rely on the colour or product name alone.
Not on the basis of that portion value. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g to use the ‘low energy’ claim. The Jumbo apricots mentioned contain 237 kcal per 100 g, so they do not meet the requirements for that claim.
