Who is this relevant to?

People who weigh out small portions

You want to use dried fruit as a snack or topping and are mainly interested in the calories in the amount you eat. So compare the nutritional values per 100 g with the portion you’ve weighed out.

Students on a tight food budget

You divide dried fruit into small portions to serve with dinner and want to match your spending to what you actually use. Deloitte Netherlands identifies price and convenience as factors in supermarket choices, but this doesn’t tell us what proportion of students prioritise them.

People who want to portion out a pack

You use one pack across several meals and consider its weight, how much you can use up and the storage instructions once opened. One variety may need to be refrigerated, while another should be stored in a dry place.

What should you look for when choosing?

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Energy per portion Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the figure for the amount you’ve weighed out; also check whether the fruit is soaked. If I’m weighing out a small snack, I want to know how much energy my portion provides, not just the value per 100 g. Around 34% of consumers prioritise calories per portion.
Cost per portion Compare pack weights and the cost of the amount you’ll use, and factor in how much you need to buy in one go. For a student dinner, I want to know what the portion I actually use costs, rather than looking only at the price of the whole pack. Around 33% of consumers prioritise practical portion costs.
Ingredients and sensitivities Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety; distinguish between added and total sugars. If the ingredients or a personal sensitivity affect my choice, I want to be able to check the information on the exact pack. Around 20% of consumers prioritise ingredients and tolerance.
Storage and portioning Check the instructions for after opening and choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it and the storage space available. If I want to divide a bag between several dinners, the storage method needs to suit my kitchen. Around 13% of consumers prioritise storage and suitable portion sizes.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming low fat or no added sugar means low in calories

    These claims alone don’t tell you how much energy a product contains. For example, AH Raisins list 0 g of added sugars and 0.5 g of fat per 100 g, but also 344 kcal per 100 g.

    Check the energy and ingredients together, and calculate the value per 100 g for the portion you’ve weighed out.

  • Assuming the portion size on the pack is the recommended daily amount

    A portion on a label isn’t the same as dietary advice. The AH pages reviewed list 50 g as a portion size; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day.

    Decide how much you want and weigh it out. Remember to include any dried fruit you also use in a meal.

  • Assuming all dried fruit should be stored in the same way

    The AH soaked apricots reviewed need to be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C once opened. The AH raisins and Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed state that they should be stored in a dry place.

    Follow the instructions on the pack for your variety and choose an amount you can use while following those instructions.

  • Judging a pack by just one prominent feature

    Packs differ in weight and composition. One feature alone won’t tell you how much energy your portion provides or whether the pack size suits how you’ll use it.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, your own weighed portion, the ingredients and the pack weight separately.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The product pages reviewed feature soaked dried apricots and raisins; the nutritional values and storage instructions apply to those varieties.

  • AH Soaked Dried Apricots list 182 kcal per 100 g and should be refrigerated once opened.
  • AH Raisins list 344 kcal per 100 g and should be stored in a dry place.
  • These product details don’t necessarily apply to other dried fruit from Albert Heijn.

Jumbo

Jumbo Dried Pitted Apricots 250 g is a specific variety you can assess by portion size, ingredients and nutritional value.

  • The product information lists 237 kcal per 100 g and 99.8% apricots.
  • This variety contains sulphites and may contain nuts, peanuts and sesame. Check the pack if this is relevant to you.

Lidl

Lidl describes Alesto as a range of nuts and dried fruit, including apricots.

  • The product information for dried stone fruit lists several varieties in 200 g packs.
  • Check the nutritional values and ingredients for the specific variety; general range descriptions don’t necessarily apply to every pack.

ALDI

ALDI offers a 500 g pack of raisins, an option to consider if you want to divide the contents between several meals.

  • The product page lists a pack weight of 500 g.
  • Check the nutritional values on the pack for the variety you choose; pack size alone says nothing about the calories per portion.

PLUS

PLUS Dried Apricots in a 375 g stand-up pouch is a larger pack for snacking or cooking.

  • The product information lists 254 kcal per 100 g and 0 g of added sugars.
  • The apricots contain sulphites; these details apply to the variety reviewed, not to all PLUS fruit products.

Dirk

Dirk offers Pitted Apricots in a 200 g pack.

  • The pack weight gives you a practical starting point for matching the amount to how you’ll use it.
  • Check the nutritional values and ingredients on the exact pack before assessing the variety’s calories.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is 20 g of dried fruit a legal maximum?

No. The maximum of 20 g per day is dietary advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not a legal limit on buying or eating dried fruit. A portion size on a pack may differ; for example, the AH pages reviewed list 50 g as a portion size.

Can a small portion of dried fruit be described as low in calories?

A small portion doesn’t make a product eligible for a ‘low calorie’ claim. In the EU, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to use ‘low energy’ and equivalent claims, according to the European Commission. The AH apricots, Jumbo apricots, PLUS apricots and AH Raisins reviewed list 182, 237, 254 and 344 kcal per 100 g respectively.

Does dried fruit need to be refrigerated once opened?

It depends on the variety. AH Soaked Dried Apricots need to be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C once opened; the AH Raisins and Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed state that they should be stored in a dry place. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy.

What should I look out for if sulphites or other allergens are relevant to me?

Check the allergen information on the exact pack before buying. The AH, Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed list sulphites; Jumbo also warns that the product may contain nuts, peanuts and sesame. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.

How do I work out the cost of a portion from a larger pack?

Divide the pack price by its weight, then multiply the result by the weight of your portion. Also consider the total amount you’ll pay for the pack and how much you’ll actually use.