Start by choosing dried fruit based on the specific ingredient you need to avoid. Check both the ingredients list and any warning about possible cross-contamination. A ‘gluten-free’ or ‘vegan’ claim is not a general guarantee that a product is free from allergens, so then choose a portion size and pack that suit your routine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day.
You’re looking for a morning snack that fits the specific advice you’ve been given about what to avoid. Check the ingredients and the warning about possible cross-contamination; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre treat these as separate types of label information.
Your main priority is avoiding sulphites, so you compare the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant. The Food Allergy Foundation describes a reaction to sulphites as an intolerance reaction, rather than a food allergy.
You compare added sugars, portion size and storage. Small boxes are already portioned, while you’ll need to measure out a portion yourself from a larger bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Check for the specific allergen in the ingredients list and read the full warning, such as ‘May contain X’. | If I need to avoid a particular allergen, I also want to know whether there’s a cross-contamination warning. Around 33% of consumers prioritise avoiding allergens. |
| Sulphites | Look for sulphites, sulphur dioxide and relevant E numbers in the ingredients. ‘Unsulphured’ doesn’t automatically mean free from preservatives. | If you specifically need to avoid sulphites, your main concern is different from that of someone avoiding milk or nuts. Around 27% of consumers prioritise avoiding sulphites. |
| Sugars and portion size | Compare added sugars with total sugars per 100 g, and weigh your own portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day. | If I want to keep an eye on both portion size and the difference between added and total sugars, this information is important. Around 20% of consumers have this priority. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the weight of each box with the contents of a bag, and follow the storage instructions for the exact variant once opened. | This is a key consideration for consumers who want to take their snack with them and store the packaging conveniently. They make up around 20%. |
A claim refers to a specific product characteristic and doesn’t automatically tell you whether the product is suitable for your avoidance advice. Ingredients and cross-contamination warnings are separate pieces of information.
Identify the ingredient you need to avoid, then check both the ingredients list and the full warning on the packaging.
The product information for PLUS Dried Apricots lists 0 g of added sugars and 53.4 g of total sugars per 100 g. These figures clearly don’t mean the same thing.
Read both the ingredients list and the nutrition table, and check the total sugars per 100 g as well as how much you’ll eat.
A handy portion for on the go doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for someone with an allergy. The Jumbo Raisin Snack Boxes we checked carry warnings for almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, milk, soya and walnuts.
Check the information for the exact variant first, then compare the portion size and packaging.
The examples below relate to specific variants. Label information for one pack doesn’t automatically apply to a brand’s entire range.
The AH apricots we checked show why it’s important to read ‘free from’ claims alongside information about preservatives.
The variants we checked come in different types of packaging: a bag of natural sultana raisins and individual raisin boxes.
The Alesto range includes dried fruit, including apricots, and is one place to compare labels for specific variants.
The official product information identifies Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g pack.
PLUS Dried Apricots 375 g is a good example of how a vegan claim doesn’t mean a product is free from sulphites.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste White Raisins in a 375 g pack.
This Joybuy selection includes dried fruit products for a snack. Compare the ingredients and portion size of each product, as the ingredients and packaging vary.
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The six 25 g bags are individually portioned for when you’re out and about.
The product information lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says there’s no added sugar.
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The 25 g pack is a small, pre-portioned snack.
The product information lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says there’s no added sugar.
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The pack contains ten individual 14 g boxes.
The product information says the raisins are organic, with no added sugar and no sulphites.
The product information says they’re suitable from 12 months, that children should be supervised while eating, and that they’re unsuitable for children with swallowing difficulties.
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The product information describes dried guava as a snack or an ingredient for dishes.
The ingredients list includes sugar and a preservative; check the full ingredients list before choosing.
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The product information describes the dried strawberries as a snack and says they come in a resealable 50 g pack.
The ingredients list includes strawberries and sugar.
It’s a warning about the possible unintended presence of an allergen due to cross-contamination, not necessarily a declaration that it’s an ingredient. According to the NVWA, rules for these warnings have applied since 1 January 2026: a risk assessment must determine whether reference values could be exceeded. The permitted wording is ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’.
No. A vegan claim isn’t a general guarantee that a product is free from allergens. Also read the ingredients list and check the cross-contamination warning for milk and the specific nuts you need to avoid.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day. This is the total amount for the day, not a required weight for each pack.
No, follow the storage instructions for the exact variant. For the AH Soft Dried Apricots we checked, Albert Heijn says to refrigerate the product after opening at a maximum of 7 °C; other products may have different instructions.
Compare the amount per portion with the contents of the whole bag, and consider whether you want to portion it yourself. The Jumbo boxes we checked contain 14 g each, while the Sultana Raisins bag we checked contains 500 g. They’re different pack types and quantities.
