Low-fat label checkers
If low fat is the starting point for dessert, compare sugars and serving sizes too. GOV.UK advises using nutrition labels to compare products, while the Princes fruit-cocktail labels show why packing medium matters for sugars.
Who this is for
Parents offering familiar foods
If a child accepts only certain fruits or textures, a recognisable single-fruit portion offers a straightforward starting point. The NHS advises continuing to offer variety without forcing a child to eat.
Households planning small desserts
For a small serving, check how much fruit remains after draining and whether you can use any leftovers within the pack's storage instructions.
What to check when buying
Start with an accepted fruit and piece format, compare the exact pack's nutrition information, then consider how much of the tin you will use.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and sugars | Compare fat and sugars per 100g and per serving; check whether the fruit is packed in juice or light syrup. | If I want a low-fat dessert, I still need to know how the sugars in my intended portion compare. About 42% of consumers would put this label comparison first. |
| Fruit and texture | Look for an accepted fruit and piece shape; check the contents before choosing a medley. | When an unfamiliar piece could put my child off the portion, I would begin with fruit they recognise. Familiar fruit and texture would come first for about 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and leftovers | Check drained weight and the instructions for storing fruit after opening. | If I only need a little fruit for one meal, I want a manageable portion and a plan for the remainder. For about 25% of consumers, that practical need would decide the choice first. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Choosing on fat alone
Low fat does not tell you how much sugar is in the portion. Princes Food and Drinks lists the same fat figure for its juice-packed and light-syrup fruit cocktails, but different sugars per 100g.
Read both fat and sugars on the exact pack, using per-100g figures to compare products and serving figures to assess the portion.
-
Assuming mixed fruit will be accepted
A medley presents several fruits and textures together. That may be awkward when a child currently accepts only one of them.
Begin with a familiar fruit and a small separate portion. The NHS advises offering variety again without forcing it.
-
Counting packing liquid as fruit
The tin's net weight includes liquid, so it does not describe the amount of drained fruit available to serve.
Check drained weight where stated, especially when comparing tin sizes for a small meal.
-
Forgetting about the opened tin
Storage instructions and use-by periods after opening differ between products.
Follow the purchased pack's directions for transferring and refrigerating leftovers, and use them within its stated period.
Brands to consider
Del Monte
Its juice-packed peach slices offer a single-fruit option; the Sainsbury's listing gives a 415g net weight and 250g drained weight.
- Sainsbury's lists less than 0.1g fat and 11g sugars per 100g for those peach slices.
- The listed packing juice can vary between pineapple, grape and pear juice by season, so check the can's ingredients.
Princes
Its fruit cocktail comes in juice-packed and light-syrup versions, allowing a comparison of that specific product pair.
- Princes Food and Drinks lists less than 0.1g fat per 100g for both versions.
- It lists 9.0g sugars per 100g in juice and 15.0g per 100g in light syrup; neither figure describes every tinned fruit product.
Tesco
Its listed options include single-fruit pineapple slices and a mixed-fruit medley in juice.
- Tesco Groceries lists less than 0.1g fat per 100g for both examples.
- The pineapple listing gives 27.7g sugars for the full can; compare the portion you intend to serve rather than judging by fat alone.
Sainsbury's
Its own-label peach slices in fruit juice offer a familiar single-fruit format to consider.
- Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g fat and 11.0g sugars per 100g for the peach slices.
- The product warning says peach stones may remain; check the fruit before serving it to a child.
M&S
Its grapefruit segments in grapefruit juice are another single-fruit format.
- Marks & Spencer lists less than 0.1g fat and 7.3g sugars per 100g for this product.
- If sharp flavours are unfamiliar to the eater, a fruit they already accept may be a more practical first choice.
Joybuy tinned-fruit options
These single-fruit options include peaches and pineapple in juice, plus peach slices in light syrup. Choose a familiar fruit and shape, then compare the exact pack's nutrition and serving information.
Image unavailable
Morrisons Peach Slices in Juice 220g
Consider these slices if peaches are already an accepted fruit and a 220g tin suits the meal. Check the current pack's portion information and any warning about peach fragments before serving.
Image unavailable
Princes Pineapple Chunks with Juice 432g
Chunks offer a single-fruit choice if pineapple and this piece shape are familiar. Check the serving's sugar figure as well as the fat figure when planning dessert.
Image unavailable
Del Monte Pineapple Slices in Juice 435g
Choose slices rather than chunks if that is the pineapple format the eater accepts. The 435g figure is the tin's stated size; use the pack's drained weight when planning how much fruit to serve.
Image unavailable
Del Monte Peach Slices in Light Syrup 420g
This keeps the fruit in a familiar sliced form if light syrup suits the intended dessert. Do not assume the syrup changes fat in the same way it changes sugars: compare both figures and your serving size on this pack.
Image unavailable
Del Monte Peach Halves in Juice 415g
Peach halves offer a different shape from slices for an eater who already accepts peaches. Check the portion you plan to serve against the current pack's sugars information.
Questions about choosing and serving
Is fruit in juice lower in fat than fruit in light syrup?
Not necessarily. Princes Food and Drinks lists less than 0.1g fat per 100g for both versions of its fruit cocktail; their sugars differ, at 9.0g per 100g in juice and 15.0g per 100g in light syrup. Compare the products you are actually considering.
How can I offer tinned fruit to a fussy eater?
Start with a small portion of a fruit and texture the child recognises, without pressing them to finish it. The NHS advises continuing to offer variety, as accepting an unfamiliar food can take repeated attempts.
Why check both per-100g and serving figures?
Per-100g figures help you compare tins on the same basis; the serving figure helps you assess the amount you intend to offer. Tesco Groceries lists 27.7g sugars for the full can of its pineapple slices in juice, illustrating why portion size matters.
What should I do with fruit left after opening?
Follow the storage and use-by instructions on that product's pack. The Tesco and Sainsbury's examples call for transfer to a non-metallic container and refrigeration, while the stated time for using leftovers varies by product.
Are there any warnings to check before serving peach slices?
Yes. Read the warning on the exact pack and check the fruit before serving: Sainsbury's warns that peach stones may remain in its peach slices in fruit juice.