The short answer
A fruit snack with "no added sugar" is one that has had no sugar, syrup, honey or any other sweetening ingredient added to it. It does not mean "no sugar": fruit has its own. To choose, check the ingredients list. If it only lists the fruit, that is what you are after.
What the law says
In the European Union, the wording is regulated by Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, in its annex on nutrition claims:
| On the label | What Regulation 1924/2006 requires |
|---|---|
| No added sugars | No mono- or disaccharides, or any other food used for its sweetening properties, have been added. If the fruit already contains sugar, the label must also state "contains naturally occurring sugars" |
| Sugars-free | No more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g |
| Low sugars | No more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g (solids) |
Semi-dried fruit can carry "no added sugars". It will almost never be "sugars-free" or "low sugars": its own sugar is concentrated.
How to read the label in 30 seconds
- Ingredients list. If there is only one ingredient (for example, "organic mango"), there is no added sugar.
- Look for the names of sugar. Syrup, glucose syrup, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, honey, nectar, concentrated apple or grape juice. They all sweeten.
- Order. Ingredients are listed from most to least. If sugar comes second, there is a lot of it.
- Nutrition table. Check "sugars" per 100 g. In semi-dried fruit it will be high. It is the fruit's own, if step 1 is clean.
- Coating. In chocolate-coated fruit, the chocolate has its own ingredients list. Check it separately.
Which Born fruit fits this guide
- Only the single-ingredient products: mango, pineapple, coconut, apple, pear, peach, banana, black cherry, golden cherry, papaya, jackfruit, aronia and rosehip. Each product page states "One ingredient" on bornfruits.com.
- The gingers are out: they contain honey or cane syrup. The diced ginger, for example, contains 43% cane sugar according to its packaging.
- The chocolates are out: the dark chocolate on the coated fruit and the bonbons contains cane sugar.
- Products with nectar are out: nectar sweetens.
Evidence
- Concentrated sugar: in 2015 the Spanish consumer organisation OCU tested dried fruit on the market and measured, per 100 g, 82% sugar in pineapple and 85% in cherry, several with added sugar. Source: OCU, "Frutas deshidratadas, dulces tentaciones", 14 Dec 2015.
- A Born example: the organic mango packaging states one ingredient and 54.2 g of sugars per 100 g, all from the fruit.
- Consumption advice: Consumer (Eroski) points out that dried fruit concentrates its sugar and recommends eating it in small portions, children included.
Snacks on the go: office, school, travel
Three practical criteria on top of the label:
- A sealed portion. An individual pouch stops you eating too much. Born uses 40 g pouches.
- No cold needed. It should keep in a drawer or a rucksack. Born states it does not need the fridge.
- It should not crumble. A soft texture does not break up like a crunchy snack.
Example
Two bags of mango on the same shelf:
- Bag 1. Ingredients: mango, sugar, acidity regulator (citric acid), preservative. It is sweetened mango.
- Bag 2. Ingredients: organic mango. It is semi-dried fruit with no added sugar.
Both may show a high "sugars" figure in the table. Only the second can say "no added sugars".
Limits
- "No added sugar" is not "no sugar". Semi-dried fruit has a lot of its own sugar per 100 g. It is a sweet snack, to be eaten in small portions.
- This is not health advice. If you follow a diet for diabetes or another medical reason, ask your dietitian.
- Born's list may change. What counts is what each product page says on the day you buy.
- Gingers and chocolates are not included. They contain honey, syrup or cane sugar.
Next step
- Single-ingredient fruit in 40 g pouches: Fruta Pura collection, for example the organic mango, the organic pineapple or the organic coconut.
- If you have it every week, the subscription has a 10% discount and you can cancel whenever you like.
- What exactly is semi-dried fruit? Full guide.
Related questions
Does "no added sugar" mean it has no sugar?
No. It means none has been added. The fruit keeps its own sugar, and once it loses water that sugar is more concentrated.
Do honey or nectar count as added sugar?
Yes. Regulation 1924/2006 covers any food used for its sweetening properties.
Which Born fruit has no added sugar?
The products whose page states "One ingredient": mango, pineapple, coconut, apple, pear, peach, banana, cherries, papaya, jackfruit, aronia and rosehip. The gingers and the chocolates are not on this list.
Is it a good snack for children?
It is fruit, in a small, sealed portion. Since it is sweet, it works as an occasional snack, not as a substitute for fresh fruit.
How can I tell if a snack is ultra-processed?
If the ingredients list is long and includes syrups, oils, flavourings or emulsifiers, it is not just fruit. A single-ingredient semi-dried fruit has a one-line list.