Who is this guide for?

Choosing snacks when you have a food allergy

If you’re buying for yourself or someone else who needs to avoid a specific allergen, check the ingredients and warnings for that product variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly stated on the label.

Avoiding gluten or lactose

If you’re looking for dried fruit with specific information about gluten or lactose, check that the claim applies to the exact product variant. This attribute doesn’t automatically rule out other allergens. Information about lactose is also not the same as information about a milk allergy.

Avoiding sulphites

Check the ingredients or allergen information for sulphites when choosing dried fruit. The variants we checked differ: Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list sulphites in specific apricot or raisin products.

What should you look out for when choosing?

Start with the ingredient you most need to avoid, then check the sugar information, portion size and storage instructions for taking your snack out with you.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Specific allergens Read the ingredients and warnings about possible traces for the exact product variant. If you need to avoid peanuts, nuts, milk or another specific allergen, compare the warnings with the ingredients list. Around 31% of consumers put avoiding a specific allergen first.
Gluten and lactose Check that the gluten or lactose claim applies to the product variant you’ve chosen; assess milk allergy separately. If you’re mainly looking for information about gluten or lactose, you’ll want to know what the product claim does and doesn’t mean. Around 25% of consumers give these attributes top priority.
Sulphites Look for sulphites, sulphur dioxide and relevant preservatives in the ingredients and allergen information. If you need to avoid sulphites, it’s best to check the exact packaging rather than relying on the type of fruit alone. Around 19% of consumers name sulphites as their top buying priority.
Sugars and additives Check both added sugars and total sugars, and look out for other ingredients. If you’re mainly keeping an eye on added sugar or want a simple ingredients list, the total sugar content may still be relevant. Around 13% of consumers make this their top priority.
Taking it with you and storage Check the pack size and storage instructions, especially after opening. For a day out, you’ll want to know how much to take and whether an opened pack needs to be kept chilled. Around 12% of consumers give portion planning and storage top priority.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming a dietary claim means a product is free from all allergens

    The AH Organic Unsweetened Dried Pineapple we checked is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, but also carries a warning about possible traces of peanuts and various nuts.

    Check each product claim against the ingredient you need to avoid, and read the other allergen information separately.

  • Assuming all raisins or apricots have the same ingredients

    Jumbo Sun-Dried Sultana Raisins lists raisins and cottonseed oil. Jumbo White Raisins lists sulphites and possible traces of nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds and soya. The Albert Heijn and PLUS apricots we checked also list sulphites.

    Check the full product name and current ingredients information rather than relying on the type of fruit alone.

  • Confusing unsweetened with sugar-free

    Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0 g of added sugars and 67 g of total sugars per 100 g for its unsweetened dried pineapple.

    Check both the total sugars and the portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day. This is general guidance, not a legal product limit or personalised dietary advice.

  • Ignoring storage instructions after opening

    Once opened, AH Rehydrated Dried Apricots must be kept chilled at a maximum of 7 °C and have a limited shelf life.

    Before taking the pack with you, check that you’ll be able to follow the storage instructions while you’re out.

    Keeping the product chilled may mean you need to plan how to transport it. Remember, too, that an opened pack has a limited shelf life.

Brands and relevant product variants

Albert Heijn

Relevant variants include AH Raisins, AH Organic Unsweetened Dried Pineapple and AH Rehydrated Dried Apricots.

  • The AH product page lists gluten-free and lactose-free attributes for AH Raisins, with raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients. The pineapple carries a warning about peanuts and various nuts.
  • The rehydrated apricots contain sulphites and must be kept chilled after opening. This product information applies to the variants listed, not the entire range.

Jumbo

The own-brand variants we checked are Sun-Dried Sultana Raisins 500 g and White Raisins 250 g.

  • The product page lists raisins and cottonseed oil as ingredients in the sultana raisins.
  • The white raisins list sulphites and possible traces of nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds and soya. Don’t treat this information as confirmation of the allergens in the sultana variant.

Lidl

Alesto is a relevant product range that includes dried fruit.

  • Lidl describes dried fruit as one of the uses for products in the Alesto range.
  • A description of a product range isn’t confirmation that an individual pack is free from allergens. Check the information for the variant you’ve chosen.

ALDI

The Dutch product page lists Trader Joe’s Raisins 500 g.

  • The retailer’s page confirms the product identity and pack size.
  • The product name and pack size alone don’t tell you whether a specific allergen is present. Check the packaging before serving.

PLUS

PLUS Dried Apricots 375 g is a relevant option if you don’t need to avoid sulphites.

  • The product page lists apricot as an ingredient.
  • The variant lists preservative E220 (sulphites). So the vegan claim doesn’t mean the product is suitable if you need to avoid sulphites.

Dirk

Retailer listings include sultanas, white raisins, pitted prunes and apricots.

  • These product types may help you find variants that suit your snack preferences.
  • A product name or retailer listing doesn’t confirm that a variant is free from a particular allergen. Check the information on the exact pack.

Dried fruit at Joybuy

These Joybuy products are dried fruit snacks that can help with portion planning and taking snacks out with you. Before choosing a product for someone who needs to avoid a particular ingredient, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant.

MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit, 150 g (6 packs of 25 g)

MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit 150 g (6 × 25 g)

The individual packs are handy if you want to take snacks with you in separate portions.

The product information lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and states that the pack contains six 25 g bags.

Joybuy
MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit 25 g

MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit 25 g

The 25 g pack is a handy single portion to take with you.

The product information lists jackfruit as the only ingredient.

Joybuy
OHLA dried guava 180 g

OHLA dried guava 180 g

This variant may suit you if you’re looking for dried guava and its ingredients match your preferences.

The product information lists guava, sugar and a preservative. Check the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack.

Joybuy
MUSHAN BASE dried strawberry slices 50 g

MUSHAN BASE dried strawberry slices 50 g

The resealable pack can be useful if you don’t use it all at once.

The product information lists strawberries and sugar as ingredients.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does gluten-free mean a snack is also suitable for someone with a nut allergy?

No. A gluten-free claim doesn’t automatically mean a product is free from nuts. For its gluten-free and lactose-free AH Organic Unsweetened Dried Pineapple, Albert Heijn warns that it may contain peanuts and various nuts. Check each ingredient you need to avoid separately.

Are sulphites the same as a food allergen?

The Food Allergy Foundation describes a reaction to sulphites as an intolerance reaction, not an allergic reaction. Sulphites may be present in dried fruit, so check the ingredients information for the exact variant.

Can you take an opened pack of rehydrated apricots with you for the whole day?

Follow the instructions for the specific variant. Once opened, AH Rehydrated Dried Apricots must be kept chilled at a maximum of 7 °C and have a limited shelf life. Plan ahead so you can follow these instructions while you’re out.

Is dried fruit with no added sugar also sugar-free?

No. No added sugar doesn’t mean that the product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn’s product page lists 67 g of total sugars and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g for its unsweetened dried pineapple.

Should you check the label again the next time you buy it?

Yes. Check the packaging of the variant you’re buying at the time. Albert Heijn and PLUS note that ingredients and allergen information can change, so don’t rely solely on a label you read previously when buying the product again.