For a dessert to share after moules-frites, start with the number of portions shown on the pack, then choose the quantity based on the role the fruit will play in your dessert. Picard and E.Leclerc list 650–750 g mixes, so you could opt for a single pack; a smaller pack may be enough as a topping, or you could buy several. Also check the ingredients, defrosting instructions and availability of your chosen product.
If fruit is the dessert, check the portion information rather than relying on the weight alone. Picard lists 750 g bags of fruit salad, while E.Leclerc lists a 650 g red fruit mix. These weights alone don’t tell you how many people the packs will serve.
Whether you’re making a fruit salad, topping, bake or smoothie, choosing a mix rather than whole fruit will affect how you prepare it. Check the ingredients and defrosting instructions for the product you choose; Auchan provides this information for its whole red fruit mix, for example.
A smaller bag may be suitable if the fruit is accompanying another dessert. Auchan lists a 450 g mix as serving three, while Lidl lists a resealable 400 g bag and ALDI lists 500 g bags of strawberries or blueberries. Depending on the number of people you’re serving, you may need more than one bag.
First decide whether you’ll serve the fruit on its own or as a topping, then compare the weight with the stated portions and the ingredients in the bag.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| How much to serve | Compare the net weight with the stated portions. Auchan says its 450 g mix serves three; that guidance applies to this specific product. | If fruit is the dessert for everyone at the table, I want to be able to serve everyone without relying on a second bag. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise having enough to share. |
| Type of fruit | Read the ingredients and check whether the bag contains a mix, whole fruit or a single variety. Also check the preparation instructions. | If I’m arranging fruit on a dessert or adding it to a recipe, I want to choose its form and variety. This would be the main factor in the decision for around 33% of consumers. |
| Leftovers and availability | Choose the number of bags to suit how you plan to use them, and check the product is available at your chosen store. When checked, Carrefour’s listing for a 1 kg Thomas Le Prince bag showed it as unavailable. | If I’m only going to use some of the fruit, I’d rather plan a quantity I can manage without unnecessarily defrosting the rest. For around 25% of consumers, this would be their first consideration. |
The pack name doesn’t replace the information on the packaging. Auchan says its 450 g mix serves three; you can’t apply that guidance to every frozen fruit product of the same weight.
First decide how you’ll serve the fruit, then compare the net weight and stated portions of the products you’re considering.
Carrefour listed a 1 kg Thomas Le Prince bag, but when checked, the product page showed it as unavailable. So spotting a product in a catalogue isn’t enough to plan your dessert.
Check the product at your chosen store or collection service, and have another combination of bags in mind.
The DGCCRF warns that a rise in temperature speeds up microbial growth. Auchan and Carrefour’s instructions also say not to refreeze a product once it has defrosted.
Pick up frozen food last, take it home promptly, and follow the storage temperatures and defrosting instructions on the packaging.
A recall applies to specified products and batches. In June 2024, RappelConso published a recall for certain 650 g Douceur du Verger bags; this doesn’t mean all red fruit sold by E.Leclerc is affected.
If you’re unsure about a bag you have at home, compare its brand, GTIN code, batch and best-before date with the information on RappelConso.
These examples give you an idea of the different pack sizes and ingredients available. Check the exact product before planning your dessert.
Picard lists 750 g bags of red and exotic fruit salads, as well as single-variety fruit and smaller mixes.
The Marque Repère range lists a red fruit mix and Douceur du Verger blueberries in 650 g bags, as well as 1 kg bags of whole raspberries.
Carrefour listed a 1 kg bag of Thomas Le Prince red fruit.
Auchan describes a 450 g mix of whole red fruit, marked as serving three, with defrosting instructions.
Lidl offers a resealable 400 g bag of organic frozen fruit, suitable for desserts and recipes.
ALDI listed All Seasons strawberries and blueberries in 500 g bags.
Choose based on the stated portions and how you plan to serve the fruit, rather than relying on the word “family” on its own. Auchan says its 450 g mix serves three, while Picard and E.Leclerc also list 750 g and 650 g mixes. How many people these larger bags serve depends on the portion size you have in mind.
Follow the instructions on the bag you buy. For its 450 g mix of whole red fruit, Auchan recommends defrosting in the fridge or microwave, followed by a resting period. These instructions may not apply to other products.
Don’t refreeze products whose packaging advises against it: the instructions checked at Auchan and Carrefour say not to refreeze a product once it has defrosted. If the packaging allows, take out only the amount you need while the rest is still frozen, and follow the storage instructions.
Compare the brand, GTIN code, batch and best-before date on the bag with the relevant RappelConso notice. The recall published in June 2024 for certain 650 g bags of Douceur du Verger red fruit and blueberries applied to specified batches, not every product from this brand.
Follow the instructions on the packaging, and keep your hands and utensils clean while preparing the fruit. Anses says that some raw produce, including red fruit, can be linked to norovirus food poisoning. Defrosting or simply rinsing the fruit should not be treated as a substitute for the manufacturer’s instructions.