Hosts keeping an eye on what goes into dessert
If you’re choosing fruit to control the ingredients in your dessert, compare the fat content per 100 g on each bag and bear in mind any accompaniments you add when serving.
Who are these options for?
Anyone making dessert bowls and glasses
To keep the berries visible in your dessert, look for whole fruit and check how long it takes to defrost before deciding when to decorate your dish.
Anyone shopping shortly before New Year’s Eve
If your dessert depends on a last-minute shop, check which product is available at your store and read the bag’s label, especially when the online listing doesn’t provide all the nutritional information.
What should you check before buying?
First decide whether you want fruit to arrange on a plate or a preparation to pour, then compare the ingredients and defrosting instructions for the product you choose.
Whole fruit
Choose this if: you want visible berries in a dessert bowl, glass or tart.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to defrost the fruit and handle it gently when arranging your dessert.
Ready-mixed preparation
Choose this if: you’re making a drink or coulis and don’t need whole fruit.
Bear in mind: the recipe and texture are already set, and the berries won’t remain visible.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and fat content | Ingredients list and fat content per 100 g; distinguish plain fruit from prepared products and frozen desserts. | I want to choose the fruit base for my dessert without assuming every recipe has the same ingredients; around 33 % of consumers would put this first. |
| Presentation | Whole fruit or a mixed preparation; varieties included in the bag. | I want the berries to remain visible in my dessert glasses; this would be the priority for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Defrosting and storage | Defrosting time and method, followed by storage instructions once defrosted. | I need to serve dessert at a specific time without defrosting the whole bag unnecessarily; around 27 % of consumers would prioritise this planning. |
| Organic, variety and retailer | Certification and varieties if they matter to you; whether your store actually stocks the product. | I’m looking first for an organic mix, a particular fruit or a product from my usual retailer; this would be the main consideration for around 13 % of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Confusing frozen fruit with a frozen fruit dessert
The words “red berries” can refer to products with very different ingredients. They’re no substitute for checking the ingredients and nutritional information.
Check the product description, then compare the ingredients and fat content per 100 g for the product you plan to serve.
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Assuming “no added sugar” means “sugar-free”
Fruit naturally contains sugars: the Picard red berry smoothie lists 6,7 g of sugars per 100 g.
If you choose a mixed preparation, also check the “of which sugars” line and take into account any accompaniments you plan to add.
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Leaving defrosting until the last minute
Defrosting times vary by product, so a preparation intended for an evening meal should be handled according to the instructions on its own packaging. The DGCCRF also advises keeping the time frozen food spends in transit to a minimum and using an insulated bag where possible.
Check the defrosting time before New Year’s Eve, carry the fruit in an insulated bag and put it in the freezer as soon as you get home.
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Assuming an old recall applies to every bag from a brand
The 2024 RappelConso recall for Douceur du Verger red berries and blueberries identified specific batches and dates. It doesn’t mean that every bag currently carrying the brand is affected.
If you have a product covered by a recall notice, compare its GTIN, batch number and date with the details published by RappelConso.
Retailers and brands to consider
Picard
Picard offers whole red berries, an organic mix and a ready-mixed fruit preparation.
- These formats let you choose between berries to arrange and a preparation to pour.
- For a mixed preparation, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you choose.
Auchan
Auchan offers, among other products, an organic mix of whole red berries and frozen raspberries.
- The listing for Auchan Bio’s mix states that it contains less than 0,5 g of fat per 100 g.
- A product’s ingredients may vary depending on the online grocery service and purchase date, so check the packaging you receive.
E.Leclerc
The retailer offers, among other products, Douceur du Verger frozen red berries in a 650 g bag.
- This pack size makes it easy to compare the amount in the bag with what you need for your dessert.
- A 2024 recall applied to specifically identified batches; check a bag’s details before deciding whether the notice applies.
Carrefour
A Carrefour Classic' listing describes a 650 g red berry mix.
- The listing describes the mix’s ingredients and storage instructions.
- This product was listed as unavailable when its page was checked, so confirm what your store has in stock.
ALDI
ALDI France’s range includes frozen strawberries or blueberries in 500 g bags.
- A bag of a single fruit may suit a recipe that specifically calls for strawberries or blueberries.
- Check the nutritional information on the packaging before choosing a product based on its fat content.
Joybuy products related to this topic
For a dessert or smoothie made with frozen fruit, this jackfruit is an alternative to red berry mixes. Check its fat content on the label before choosing it on this basis.
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Asian Choice Seedless Jackfruit, 300 g
This jackfruit is described as frozen and could be used in a fruit-based dessert or smoothie. The bag contains 300 g of seedless jackfruit; check the label for fat content and defrosting instructions before planning when to serve it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose frozen fruit with fat content in mind?
Compare the “fat” figure per 100 g and the ingredients list for each product, rather than relying on the name of the dessert alone. Listings from Picard, Auchan and Thomas Le Prince show different values depending on the fruit and preparation; also check what you plan to add when serving.
How far in advance should I defrost red berries for New Year’s Eve?
Follow the time stated on your bag: the products listed by Picard, Auchan and Thomas Le Prince don’t all take the same amount of time to defrost in the fridge. Check the instructions before planning how you’ll arrange the dessert, and follow the serving guidance once the fruit has defrosted.
Can you refreeze fruit once it has defrosted?
Don’t refreeze products whose packaging says not to, such as the products covered by Picard’s listings. To avoid leftover defrosted fruit, take out only the amount you need for dessert and follow the bag’s storage instructions.
How should you transport frozen fruit after shopping?
Pick up frozen food at the end of your shop, keep the journey short and put it in the freezer as soon as you get home. The DGCCRF recommends using an insulated bag for transport where possible; afterwards, follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging.
Does the Douceur du Verger recall apply to all the brand’s red berries?
No: the notice published by RappelConso in 2024 covered specific batches, dates and products, not every Douceur du Verger bag. If you have a bag that might be affected, compare its GTIN, batch number and date with the details in the official notice.