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  • Page | Last updated: 09 Apr 2025

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines recommendations for fruit

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Summary of FBDG recommendations for fruit for the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Due care was taken to ensure factually correct information. Food groupings and food group names differ across individual FBDGs; the ones used here are a compromise to present the information in a structured way. Differences such as those in number of portions and portion sizes were kept unaltered. The original country FBDGs and the responsible national public health authorities remain the only qualified points of reference.

Country

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Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

Belgium 250 g (about two pieces) daily

- Prefer fresh, frozen, unsweetened compote, canned in juice or water, or freeze-dried.

- Give preference to fresh fruit without added sugar or fat.

- Choose fruit according to seasonal availability.

125 g of fruit= 1 medium apple, pear or orange; 1 small banana; 1 small grapefruit; 1 peach; 1 small bunch of grapes; 2 handfuls of cherries; 2 mandarins; ¼ melon or ½ mango; a small bowl of fruit salad.
Bulgaria-

- Choose raw fruits for dessert and a hearty breakfast, include them in dairy and other types of desserts.

- Limit consumption of sugar-preserved fruit.

-
Czechia---

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DenmarkRefer to Fruit & Vegetables--
GermanyRefer to Fruit & Vegetables- -
Estonia

- 2-3 portions fruit & berries.

- Juice can replace max. 1 portion per day.

- Dried fruit & berries: max. 2-3 servings/week.

- Vary, prefer fresh.

- Juice not recommended for dental health.

Average 100 g: 300 g lemon/lime, 150 g (water)melon, 130 g citrus, 120 g berries, 120 g apples & pears, 110 g exotic & tropical fruits (excl. grapes, date palm, banana, passion fruit), 100 g stone fruit (excl. fresh dates), 60-70 g grapes, persimmons, passion fruit, etc., 50 g banana, 40 g fresh dates, 100 g (1 dl) fruit juice (excl. juice drinks and nectars), 100 g fruit and berries - compote, 20 g of dried fruit & berries.

Portions given for edible parts. 1 portion ≈ 50 kcal.

Country

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Portion size

Ireland-

- Eat a variety of coloured fruit to benefit from different minerals and vitamins.

- Most fruit are fat free.

1 medium-sized fruit (apple, orange, pear, banana),

2 small fruits (plums, kiwis, mandarin oranges),

small fruits - 6 strawberries, 10 grapes, 16 raspberries

150 ml unsweetened fruit juice.

Use a 200 ml disposable cup to guide serving size.

Greece3 servings of fruit per day

- Include a variety of fruit.

- Prefer seasonal fruit.

- Prefer fresh, whole fruit.

120-200 g.

1 medium fruit; 2 small fruits; 125 ml fresh fruit juice, only once a day.

Spain2-3 servings

- Increase the consumption of citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, tangerines, grapefruit, etc.) and red fruits (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc.).

- Consuming fruit juices is not a substitute for whole fruits.

One serving= 120-200 g of fresh fruit.

Examples: one medium piece, one medium bowl of cherries or strawberries, or two slices of watermelon.

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Portion size

France-

- No more than a glass of fruit juice a day, which in this limit can count for a serving of fruit and vegetables.

- Focus on freshly squeezed fruit.

- Dried fruit can count towards fruit consumption, yet their consumption is nevertheless to be limited and should not occur outside of meals.

- For canned fruit, favour fruit in light syrup, without consuming this syrup.

80-100 grams.
Croatia-Prefer fresh and seasonal produceA portion is as much fruit [or vegetables] as you can fit in your hand
Italy

- 2-3 portions of fruit per day.

- Occasional consumption of dried fruit.

- To increase consumption, include fruits [and vegetables] in all meals and as snacks.

- Occasional consumption of fruit juices as they are a source of sugar.

150 g fresh fruit (1 medium fruit or 2 small fruits); 30 g dried fruit (3 apricots, 2 spoons of raisins, 2 prunes)

Country

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Portion size

Cyprus2-4 pieces of fruit a day

- Fruit with peel.

- It is recommended to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables.

- Prefer brightly coloured fruit (e.g. peaches, blackberries).

1 serving = 1/2 cup (120 ml) orange juice, 1/3 cup (80 ml) grape juice, 2 small mandarins, 1 small apple (115 g), 1 small banana, 15 small raspberries (93 g), 1 medium peach (175 g), 1 small pear, 12 small cherries, 1 kiwi, 4 apricots, 4 loquats.
LatviaAt least 200 g of fruits or berries every dayFruit juices should be consumed less frequently and in small amounts1 medium-sized fruit (apple, pear, banana, orange); 2 small fruits (plums, mandarins, apricots, kiwi); half a grapefruit; a slice of melon, watermelon or pineapple; a glass of fruit juice; about 7 strawberries; A handful of cherries, blackcurrants, raspberries.
Lithuania150-200 g fruit-One serving of fruits or berries corresponds to a medium-sized apple, a handful of berries, etc

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Luxembourg5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Dried fruits have lost some of their micronutrients and contain a high concentration of sugar. They should be consumed in moderation due to their high sugar content. Use them to garnish your meals or eat a small handful as a snack.
Fruit juices, nectars, juice-based drinks are considered sugary drinks and should only be consumed occasionally.
80-100g : an average-sized apple or peach; 2 apricots; 2 mandarins; 2 handfuls of strawberries, raspberries, grapes etc
Hungary-

- Eat fruit for snacks, as salads or dessert, but also on top of breakfast cereals or pancake.

- Eat mainly fresh fruit but dried, frozen, or canned forms also count.

- Fruit juice: always choose 100% fruit juice.

100 g fresh, steamed, or boiled seasonal fruit (e.g. 1 medium apple or orange) or 1 small cup of berries.
Malta2-3 servings/d (min. 160 g)

- Wide variety, with different colours and textures.

- Regularly choose as dessert.

- Choose fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables rather than canned.

- Choose whole fresh fruit over juice, dried fruit or canned fruit (these can only be 1 portion a day).

1 serving ≈ 80 g = 1 medium-sized fruit, 2 medium-sized plums, 80 g fresh fruit salad.

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Netherlands

- 1-8 yr: at least 150 g fruit per da


- 9 yr and older: at least 200 g fruit per day

- Max. one handful (20 g) dried fruit per day.

Fruit juices are considered as sugar-containing beverages.100 g
Austria2 portions/d of fruit are ideal-1 portion corresponds to 125-150 g of fruit, 200 ml of fruit juice
PolandRefer to Fruit & Vegetables--

Country

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Portion size

Portugal3-5 servings/dWhen possible prefer fresh fruits, local and in season1 piece of 1 medium-sized fruit (160 g)
Romania2-4 servings/d-A medium fruit (apple, banana, orange, ½ grapefruit), ¾ cup juice, ½ cup cherry, an average slice of watermelon, a medium bunch of grapes)
Slovenia150 to 250 g daily--

Country

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Portion size

Slovakia2-4 servings fruit daily

- Preferably seasonal and raw.

- Eat different types of fruit.

200 g of fruit (e.g. 1 middle size apple)
Finland250 g/d, part of fruit & vegetables guidelines as above-1 medium-sized fruit, 1 dl of berries
Sweden---

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United Kingdom-

- Choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced.

- Try to eat as many different types of fruit and vegetables as possible.

1 portion = 80 g fresh fruit (1 apple, 1 banana, 1 pear, 1 orange or other similar-size fruit), 1 dessert bowl of salad, 30 g dried fruit (which should be kept to mealtimes), 150 ml fruit juice/smoothie (counts as max one portion/d).
Switzerland2 portions of fruit daily

- Prefer seasonal fruits, preferably in different colours. Enjoy fruit preferably fresh and raw.

- In addition to fresh fruits, frozen foods are also suitable. This is processed directly after harvest, which means that vitamins and minerals are largely retained. Canned fruits are less nutritious, but are practical for storing. Products without added sugar or salt are beneficial.

1 portion corresponds to 120 grams, or a handful. Examples: 1 apple, 2 apricots, 10-12 grapes
Iceland250 g/d, part of fruit and vegetables guidelines as above-1 medium-sized fruit or a small banana
NorwaySee Fruit & Vegetables--