For a ploughman's lunch, choose plain raisins if you want a chewy sweet accompaniment; choose pitted prunes if the lowest labelled fat among the reviewed packs matters more than a raisin-style texture. Tesco lists Sunsweet Stoned Prunes at 0g fat per 100g, while Marks & Spencer lists its raisins at 0.4g per 100g. Check a mixed fruit pack's ingredients before serving it as plain fruit: Sainsbury's Mixed Dried Fruit includes candied peel containing syrup and sugar.
If you want a sweet addition beside cheese, bread and pickles, compare the total-fat figures on the packs you are considering. A low figure alone will not tell you whether their fruit types and ingredients suit the board.
An ingredient list helps distinguish raisins or prunes from a mix containing candied peel. This matters when you want the fruit itself, rather than a sweetened peel mixture, to provide the contrast.
Read the current pack's ingredient, allergen and safety information before serving. The Food Standards Agency says sulphur dioxide and sulphites are used in some dried fruit and notes a higher risk of reaction for people with asthma.
Compare total fat on the same per-100g basis, then choose the fruit and ingredient list that fit the lunch. Serving and pack warnings deserve a separate look.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Labelled fat | Compare total fat per 100g on the exact packs. Tesco lists Sunsweet Stoned Prunes at 0g; Marks & Spencer lists M&S Raisins at 0.4g; ASDA lists its Seedless Raisins at 1.2g. | I want to compare fat figures without assuming prunes, raisins and mixed fruit will taste or serve alike. |
| Ingredients and sugars | Read the full ingredient list as well as sugars per 100g. Sainsbury's Mixed Dried Fruit includes candied peel made with glucose-fructose syrup and sugar; ASDA lists 70g sugars per 100g for its Seedless Raisins. | For a plain-fruit accompaniment, I would choose the fruit deliberately rather than mistake a candied-peel mix for plain raisins. |
| Fruit and texture | Choose between raisins, a blend and pitted prunes before comparing individual packs. A pitted-prune label does not rule out occasional pit fragments: Tesco carries that warning for Sunsweet Stoned Prunes. | I might want chewy raisins beside the cheese, or offer softer prunes separately so guests can choose. |
| Serving and storage | The NHS describes around 30g as a portion of dried fruit and advises having it with a meal rather than between meals. Check storage instructions too: ASDA says Whitworths Fantastic Flame Raisins need refrigeration after opening and use within two weeks. | A small serving with lunch suits my board; if a pack will be left over, I need storage instructions that work for me. |
| Pack warnings | Check the current ingredient and allergen declarations, plus any warnings about stones or seeds. The Food Standards Agency notes that sulphur dioxide and sulphites are used in some dried fruit. | Before serving guests, I want to know whether the particular pack carries a relevant allergen or pit warning. |
The reviewed labels differ in fat per 100g, but they also describe different fruits. A prune chosen for its fat figure may not provide the raisin-style accompaniment you had in mind.
Compare the figures on an equal basis, then decide whether plain raisins, mixed fruit or prunes fit the flavour and texture you want to serve.
Sainsbury's Mixed Dried Fruit contains candied peel with glucose-fructose syrup and sugar. It is a different ingredient choice from the raisins and sunflower oil listed for M&S Raisins.
Read the ingredients if you want unadorned fruit; choose a candied-peel mix when that flavour is intentional.
The NHS puts a dried-fruit portion at around 30g and advises eating dried fruit with meals rather than between meals because it can be high in sugar and affect teeth.
Serve a small amount alongside the cheese, bread and pickles, with more available if guests want it.
The Food Standards Agency notes a higher risk of reaction to sulphur dioxide for people with asthma. A pack described as pitted may also warn that pit fragments can remain.
Check the current pack's allergen and safety information before serving, and pass relevant warnings on to guests.
These examples show why the exact product label matters: fat values, ingredients and storage instructions differ even within familiar dried-fruit ranges.
A prune option if you want to compare pitted fruit with raisins for the lunch board.
A plain-raisin reference for comparing a short ingredient list with mixed fruit.
Its plain-fruit and mixed-fruit products call for different ingredient checks.
Raisin products with different preparation and storage requirements.
An own-label raisin reference when comparing ingredients and nutrition panels.
A retailer reference for comparing dried-fruit types rather than treating them as interchangeable.
These pitted-prune options are for a ploughman's lunch where you want a softer fruit accompaniment. If you prefer raisins or a mixed-fruit blend, use the fruit and ingredient checks above rather than treating prunes as a direct substitute.
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A 430g pack of pitted prunes to serve separately if guests want a fruit option other than raisins. Prunes have a different flavour and texture, so decide on the fruit type before comparing nutrition panels.
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Individually wrapped pitted prunes in a 500g pack can be set out a few at a time with lunch. Check the ingredient list if you are choosing between this product and plain dried fruit; do not rely on the front-of-pack wording alone.
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A 500g pitted-prune pack for a separate fruit serving beside the savoury items. Its product information warns that pieces of stone or pits may occasionally remain; tell guests about that warning.
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The 200g pack is an option when you want prunes alongside the lunch rather than a large bowl of mixed fruit. Refrigerate after opening and use within one week, as specified for this product.
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A 190g prune pack for a small fruit accompaniment. The product's allergen information gives conflicting details about gluten; confirm the declaration on the current pack before serving guests who need to avoid it.
No: a total-fat figure and a 'reduced fat' claim are not the same thing. For this lunch, compare total fat per 100g on the exact packs, then check the fruit type and ingredients. Tesco lists Sunsweet Stoned Prunes at 0g fat per 100g, while ASDA lists its Seedless Raisins at 1.2g; those figures alone do not make the products interchangeable.
Around 30g is the portion described by the NHS for dried fruit. Serving it alongside the meal also follows NHS advice to have dried fruit with meals rather than between them, because it can be high in sugar and affect teeth.
Choose plain raisins for a chewy fruit accompaniment, or pitted prunes if you prefer their softer texture and distinctive flavour. Choose mixed fruit if you want a blend, but read its ingredients: Sainsbury's Mixed Dried Fruit includes candied peel containing syrup and sugar. Compare labelled fat on the particular packs after deciding which fruit suits the board.
Yes, check the current pack when serving someone who needs sulphite information. The Food Standards Agency says sulphur dioxide and sulphites are used in some dried fruit, including raisins and prunes, and notes a higher risk of reaction for people with asthma. Do not assume the declaration is the same across products.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack rather than applying one rule to all raisins. ASDA's listing for Whitworths Fantastic Flame Raisins says to refrigerate them after opening and use them within two weeks; that instruction is for that partially rehydrated product.