For car boot sale refreshments, compare fat per 100g on clearly labelled dried-fruit packs rather than assuming every fruit snack is low in fat: M&S lists 0.4g for its raisins, while Whitworths lists 19.2g for its yoghurt-coated raisins. Match the pack to how it will be served, and check sugars and ingredients, particularly sulphites or nuts; the NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a between-meal snack.
If you want dried fruit to take around the sale, compare plain raisins, apricots and apple rings by fat per 100g. Their sugar and ingredient labels still matter: the Whitworths apricots and Sainsbury's apple rings listed here both contain sulphur dioxide.
Small packs can make portions easier to hand out. Before offering fruit to others, check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information, especially on fruit-and-nut mixes or coated products.
If the dried fruit is for sale rather than personal use, keep its labelling available to customers. The Food Standards Agency says selling, storing, handling or distributing food from a temporary stall may constitute a food business; check how this applies to your activity with the relevant local authority.
Start with the per-100g fat figure, then check the serving format and ingredient label against the people who will eat the fruit.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and coating | Compare fat on the same per-100g basis. Read the ingredients for coatings, nuts or coconut rather than judging by the fruit name alone. | I'm looking for a lower-fat fruit option, not a coated snack. M&S lists 0.4g fat per 100g for its raisins; Whitworths lists 19.2g per 100g for its yoghurt-coated raisins. |
| Sugars and portions | Check sugars per 100g and the amount you intend to serve. The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion and advises eating it at mealtimes. | A small pack would help me plan portions for the day, but I still want to check its sugar line rather than treating low fat as a measure of sugar. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the exact pack for sulphur dioxide or sulphites and any relevant allergen declarations. Whitworths Amazing Apricots and Sainsbury's Apple Rings both list sulphur dioxide. | If I'm offering fruit to other people, I need packaging they can check for themselves, particularly when someone needs to avoid an ingredient. |
| Pack format | Check the pack size, whether portions are individually packed and any instructions for storage after opening. Whitworths describes its Sunny Raisins in 14g boxes. | For one visit, I might prefer small packs; for several people, I need a way to portion and protect the contents of a larger pack. |
A coating or added nuts can change the comparison substantially. Whitworths declares 19.2g fat per 100g for its yoghurt-coated raisins, while M&S declares 0.4g per 100g for its plain raisins.
Compare the per-100g nutrition panels and ingredient lists before choosing a pack for a low-fat brief.
Low fat does not mean low sugar: M&S Raisins list 69.3g sugars per 100g. The NHS advises having dried fruit at mealtimes rather than grazing on it between meals.
Check the sugars line against the amount you plan to offer, especially if a larger bag will be opened for the day.
Sainsbury's Apple Rings and Whitworths Amazing Apricots list sulphur dioxide. Coated fruit and mixes can have different ingredients and allergen information.
Keep the current packaging available and check it with anyone who needs to avoid particular ingredients.
According to the Food Standards Agency, selling, storing, handling or distributing food from a temporary stall may make the operator a food business.
If you plan to sell the dried fruit, ask the relevant local authority which requirements apply to your activity before the event.
These examples show why it is worth checking individual products rather than making a decision from a brand or retailer name.
Whitworths offers plain dried fruit as well as coated fruit and mixes, so the nutrition figures differ across its range.
Its Apple Rings provide a specific own-label example for comparing fat, sugars and ingredients on one pack.
M&S lists plain raisins and mixed dried fruit in 500g packs.
Tesco's dried-fruit category lists several formats, including dates, prunes, apricots, mango, raisins and mixes.
These dried-fruit packs offer different sizes and serving formats for a car boot sale. Check each current pack's fat per 100g, sugars and ingredients against the refreshments you plan to provide.
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The 40g pack is an option when you want to carry a smaller quantity around the sale. Check its current nutrition and ingredient label before selecting it for a low-fat requirement.
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The 500g pack is worth considering if you are planning portions for several people; the product is described as individually wrapped. Its product information also notes added isomaltose, so check the current ingredient and nutrition labels rather than relying on a sugar-free description.
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The 10g pack offers a small portion to carry during a visit. Compare its per-100g fat and sugars with other packs, and check the ingredient label if you are buying for someone else.
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The 100g pack may suit a plan to divide the mango into portions. Its product information notes added sugar and sulphites, including E223; check the current label before sharing it with anyone who needs to avoid these ingredients.
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The 250g pack needs a portioning plan if it will be shared at the sale. Its product information notes added sugar and sulphites; check the current ingredients and per-100g nutrition before choosing it for your group.
Not necessarily: fat and sugars are separate lines on the nutrition panel. M&S lists 0.4g fat and 69.3g sugars per 100g for its Raisins; Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g fat and 56.3g sugars per 100g for its Apple Rings. Check the serving amount as well as both figures.
The NHS states that 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion. It advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a between-meal snack, so consider when refreshments are likely to be eaten as well as the pack size.
Do not assume they are: Sainsbury's Apple Rings and Whitworths Amazing Apricots both list sulphur dioxide. Check the exact current pack's ingredients and allergen information before offering any alternative.
Check the applicable nutrition-claim rules before using that wording in a sales description. GOV.UK says claims such as “low fat” are subject to rules; the fruit name or a small per-serving fat figure alone is not enough to establish that a claim is appropriate.
It depends on the activity. The Food Standards Agency says selling, storing, handling or distributing food, including from a temporary stall, may constitute a food business. Confirm which requirements apply to your plans with the relevant local authority before trading.