Shoppers pairing fruit with protein
If you want tinned fruit with a meal or dessert, plan the protein food separately. Products listed by ASDA Groceries and Princes Food and Drinks provide only 0.4g to 0.6g protein per 100g in the cited variants.
Who this matters to
Shoppers comparing low-fat options
If fat is a priority, compare the nutrition panels of the exact cans you might buy. Check sugars and the stated portion too, rather than treating the packing liquid or fruit type as a complete nutritional description.
Shoppers planning several portions
If one can will be used across more than one serving, check its drained weight and after-opening instructions. The storage period can differ between products, as the ASDA Groceries peach and mandarin labels illustrate.
What to check when buying
For a low-fat fruit addition to a high-protein meal, decide first whether protein pairing, nutrition-label comparison or portion handling is your main concern.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Protein in the meal | Check the fruit’s protein per 100g, then choose a separate protein food that fits the meal. | If fruit is part of my breakfast or dessert, I need another food to provide the protein rather than counting on the can. About 42% of consumers would put that pairing need first. |
| Fat and sugars | Compare fat and sugars per 100g on the same drained or undrained basis, then check the stated serving. | When choosing between cans, I want to assess fat without overlooking differences in sugars. This would be the primary concern for about 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and leftovers | Check pack and drained weights, serving information and the exact after-opening instructions. | If I will not finish the can at once, I need a portion size and storage period that work for how I use it. About 25% of consumers would prioritise that practical need. |
For label comparisons, the NHS describes 3g of fat or less per 100g as low for foods. ASDA Groceries lists less than 0.5g fat and 10g sugars per 100g drained for its peach slices in fruit juice, compared with 0g fat and 4.3g sugars per 100g drained for its mandarin segments in mandarin juice. Both figures use a drained basis, but neither product should be relied on as the protein component of a meal.
Common buying mistakes
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Counting the fruit as the protein food
The cited pineapple, peach and mandarin products provide no more than 0.6g protein per 100g. A fruit-only dessert therefore does not serve the same purpose as adding a protein food.
Choose the fruit for the portion you want, then select a separate protein food that fits your dietary needs. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identifies eggs, dairy, pulses and tofu among its examples of protein foods.
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Assuming every can packed in juice has the same nutrition
Two juice-packed fruits can have different sugar figures even when both list very little fat. The ASDA Groceries peach and mandarin values differ on a per-100g drained basis.
Compare the exact products’ fat, sugars and energy figures using matching per-100g bases, then check how much fruit you intend to serve.
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Choosing by can size alone
The weight on the front of a can does not, by itself, tell you the drained weight or how many portions suit your household.
Check the drained weight and any serving information before choosing a pack, particularly if you expect to use it over several occasions.
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Forgetting the instructions after opening
Leftovers need to be handled according to the product label. ASDA Groceries specifies different use periods for its peach and mandarin products.
Follow the exact can’s directions for transferring, covering and refrigerating unused fruit, and use it within the period stated there.
Brands to consider
Princes
Princes Food and Drinks lists pineapple chunks in juice in its tinned-fruit range.
- Its listed pineapple chunks contain 0.0g fat and 0.4g protein per 100g.
- That protein figure makes the fruit an accompaniment, not the protein element of a meal. Check the exact label for other Princes variants.
Del Monte
ASDA Groceries lists Del Monte mandarin segments and fruit cocktail in juice.
- Both cited products list 0g fat and 0.5g protein per 100g.
- Their fruit and packing liquids differ, so compare the ingredients and nutrition panel of the variant you choose.
Asda
ASDA Groceries lists own-label peach slices in fruit juice and mandarin segments in mandarin juice.
- The cited peach and mandarin products list less than 0.5g and 0g fat per 100g drained, respectively.
- Their sugars differ at 10g and 4.3g per 100g drained. Check the physical label for the product you buy.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label apricot halves, mandarin segments and pineapple chunks in juice.
- These listings give shoppers several fruit and pack-format options to examine.
- Check each can’s nutrition panel before deciding whether it fits your fat and sugar priorities.
Joybuy tinned fruit selections
These juice-packed tinned fruits can serve as the fruit component of a meal or snack alongside a separately chosen protein food. Compare the label of the exact can if fat, sugars or drained portions determine your choice.
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Del Monte Pineapple Slices in Juice 435g
Pineapple slices for serving alongside a separate protein food. The 435g pack is described as fruit in juice; check the can’s nutrition basis before comparing its figures with drained-fruit labels.
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Del Monte Peach Halves in Juice 415g
Peach halves for a fruit-and-protein pairing, rather than a protein source in their own right. This is a 415g pack; use the label’s drained or undrained basis when comparing nutrition with another can.
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Princes Pineapple Chunks With Juice 432g
Pineapple chunks to add fruit to a meal with a separate protein food. The pack is 432g; check its drained weight and nutrition basis if comparing edible portions with other cans.
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Del Monte Fruit Cocktail in Juice 415g
A mixed-fruit option to serve with a separately chosen protein food. The 415g pack contains fruit cocktail in juice; check its ingredients if the particular fruit mix matters to you, and its drained weight when planning portions.
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Del Monte Pear Halves in Juice 415g
Pear halves for a dessert or snack that includes a separate protein food. The pack is 415g; check the can for its drained weight, serving information and the basis of its per-100g nutrition figures.
Frequently asked questions
Can tinned fruit provide the protein in a high-protein meal?
Do not rely on the cited tinned-fruit products as the meal’s protein food: the Princes and ASDA Groceries examples list 0.4g to 0.6g protein per 100g. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identifies foods including eggs, dairy, pulses and tofu as protein options to consider separately.
How do I check whether tinned fruit is low in fat?
Read the fat figure per 100g on the exact product’s nutrition panel and compare products on the same drained or undrained basis. The NHS describes 3g of fat or less per 100g as low for foods; the cited ASDA Groceries peach and mandarin products list less than 0.5g and 0g fat per 100g drained, respectively.
Should I choose fruit in juice rather than light syrup?
Choose by the exact products’ ingredients and nutrition figures, not the packing descriptions alone. Even two juice-packed products differ: ASDA Groceries lists 10g sugars per 100g drained for its peach slices and 4.3g for its mandarin segments. Compare any syrup-packed option on the same basis before deciding.
What should I do with tinned fruit left after opening?
Follow the instructions on that can. ASDA Groceries directs shoppers to transfer unused peach slices to a suitable non-metallic container, cover, refrigerate and use within four days; its mandarin product gives a three-day use period after opening.