Hosts comparing fat declarations
If lower declared fat matters for your Boxing Day buffet, compare products per 100g. That figure does not, by itself, establish a reduced-fat claim or tell you how much sugar a product contains.
Who is this for?
Hosts checking ingredients for guests
Some dried-fruit mixes and single-fruit products list sulphur dioxide or sweetened ingredients. Keep the current pack available so guests can check what is in the fruit you serve.
Hosts choosing a serving format
A mixed-fruit pack can fill a communal bowl or be used in baking. Single-fruit options are easier to serve separately, while small packs provide individual portions.
What should you check?
Start with the fat declaration, then check the ingredient list and decide how you will serve the fruit.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat claims | Compare fat per 100g on the same basis. UK conditions published by legislation.gov.uk distinguish a reduced-fat claim, requiring at least 30% less fat than a similar product, from the low-fat condition of no more than 3g per 100g for solids. | I want to compare the fruit itself, not mistake a small fat figure for proof that its fat has been reduced against another product. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Read sugars per 100g alongside the full ingredient list. M&S declares 68.8g sugars per 100g for its Mixed Dried Fruit; Whitworths lists candied peel containing glucose syrup and sugar in its Mixed Fruit. | A short ingredient list matters to me, or I need to distinguish plain mixed fruit from a mix with sweetened additions. |
| Guest information | Check the current pack for declared allergens and other ingredients. Whitworths Mixed Fruit and Sainsbury's Apple Rings list sulphur dioxide. | If a guest avoids a particular ingredient, I can show them the packet and keep serving utensils separate rather than relying on a product name. |
| Serving format | Check the total quantity and whether it comes as a sharing pack or individual portions. The NHS uses 30g of dried fruit as its reference for one 5 A Day portion and advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes. | For a communal buffet bowl, I need enough fruit to serve the group; individual packs may work better where I want portions kept separate. |
Common buying mistakes
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Calling any low-fat dried fruit ‘reduced fat’
A low declared fat value does not show a reduction against a similar food. The UK reduced-fat claim condition published by legislation.gov.uk requires a comparison showing at least a 30% reduction.
Compare fat per 100g, and look for the required comparison before treating ‘reduced fat’ as an established claim.
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Assuming low fat means low sugar or fruit alone
M&S Mixed Dried Fruit declares 0.4g fat and 68.8g sugars per 100g. Whitworths Mixed Fruit contains candied peel made with glucose syrup and sugar.
Read both the nutrition panel and ingredients list if sugars or added ingredients will affect your choice.
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Putting out fruit without its ingredient information
Products such as Whitworths Mixed Fruit and Sainsbury's Apple Rings list sulphur dioxide. A guest checking for sulphites needs information for the pack actually served.
Keep that pack beside the buffet or make its current ingredient list available, and use separate utensils for separately served options.
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Choosing small pouches for a communal bowl
Individual portions and a sharing pack serve different purposes: opening many small packs adds preparation when the fruit is going into one bowl.
Check the pack format and total quantity against the way you plan to serve the buffet.
Brand and retailer references
These product-label examples show why it is worth checking the individual pack, rather than judging a whole brand's dried-fruit range by one item.
Whitworths
Whitworths Mixed Fruit combines sultanas, raisins, currants and candied peel for a traditional fruit mix.
- Whitworths declares 0.7g fat per 100g for this product.
- Its ingredient list includes candied peel made with glucose syrup and sugar, as well as sulphur dioxide.
M&S
M&S lists both a plain Mixed Dried Fruit and a mix with cranberries and apricots.
- Its 500g Mixed Dried Fruit contains sultanas, raisins, currants and sunflower oil, and declares 0.4g fat per 100g.
- Its mix with cranberries and apricots declares 2.6g fat per 100g and includes sweetened fruit and sulphites; check the specific product label.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Apple Rings offer a single-fruit format that can be served separately from a mixed-fruit bowl.
- The Apple Rings label declares less than 0.5g fat per 100g.
- It also declares 56.3g sugars per 100g and lists sulphur dioxide; check the current pack before serving.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists dried-fruit formats including raisins and ready-to-eat prunes.
- Its listed options include 500g packs of raisins and prunes, giving hosts sharing-pack formats to consider.
- Compare the nutrition and ingredients on the particular pack you intend to serve.
Joybuy dried-fruit options
These options cover prunes, dates, blueberries and figs for either shared serving or individual portions. Compare each pack's current nutrition and ingredients with your buffet needs; this selection does not establish a reduced-fat claim for any product.
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J.ZAO Prebiotic Pitted Chilean Prunes 500g
A 500g prune option for hosts considering fruit for a buffet. The prunes are individually wrapped inside the bag, so allow for unwrapping if you plan to fill a shared bowl; check the current pack for nutrition and ingredients.
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Hao Xiang Ni Ready-to-Eat Red Dates 900g (30 x 30g)
Thirty 30g sachets suit a buffet where individual portions are preferable to a communal bowl. The dates contain pits, so make this clear to guests; check the current pack for nutrition and ingredients.
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Natures Finest Juicy Pitted Prunes 700g
This 700g prune product is a different serving format from dry fruit for a bowl: the prunes are in juice. Check the current pack for its ingredients, nutrition and serving instructions if that distinction matters for your buffet.
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Three Squirrels Daily Blueberry Dried Snack 256g (16 x 16g)
Sixteen 16g packs provide separate servings rather than one ready-to-pour sharing pack. The product information lists added sugar and sunflower oil, so check the current ingredients and nutrition if you want a simpler fruit option.
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Whitworths Figs 175g
A 175g single-fruit option that can be served separately from mixed fruit. Check how much you need for the group, along with the current pack's ingredients and nutrition.
Questions about buffet dried fruit
Does ‘reduced fat’ just mean dried fruit has little fat?
No. Under the UK nutrition-claim conditions published by legislation.gov.uk, a reduced-fat claim requires at least 30% less fat than a similar product. The separate low-fat condition for solid food is no more than 3g per 100g, so a low fat declaration alone does not establish a reduction.
What portion can I use when planning the buffet?
The NHS states that 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion. You can use 30g as a quantity reference when deciding how many portions a pack could provide, rather than assuming every guest will take the same amount.
What should I check for guests avoiding certain ingredients?
Check the current pack's full ingredients and allergen information, then make it available beside the fruit you serve. Whitworths Mixed Fruit and Sainsbury's Apple Rings list sulphur dioxide; a different product or recipe needs its own check.
Should dried fruit stay out for snacking after the meal?
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a between-meal snack to reduce the risk of tooth decay. If your Boxing Day buffet is a meal, plan its dried-fruit serving as part of that meal.
How should I store dried fruit after opening it?
Follow the instructions on the particular pack. Sainsbury's states that its Figs 500g should be refrigerated after opening and used within four weeks; do not apply those instructions automatically to other dried fruit.