Choose dried fruit with the ingredient you need to avoid in mind: check the full ingredients list and any cross-contamination warning, rather than relying on a general ‘free from’ description. If you’re sensitive to sulphites, check separately for sulphites or E220–E228. If the fruit is sold loose, ask the canteen for information about the product actually being served. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day; this is dietary advice, not a medical safety threshold.
Check the full ingredients list and any cross-contamination warnings. If the fruit is sold loose, you’ll need information about the product served by the canteen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains the information requirements for prepacked and non-prepacked foods.
Check dried fruit separately for sulphites. The Food Allergy Foundation lists E220–E228 as sulphite additives and distinguishes between sulphite intolerance and food allergy. The type of fruit or drying method won’t tell you whether sulphites are present.
Choose packaging that suits your lunch break, and keep the product information so you can check it. Individual portions and larger bags call for different approaches to portioning and storage. Convenient packaging doesn’t mean the product is suitable for your dietary needs.
When choosing dried fruit for a university lunch break, both your dietary needs and how you’ll carry and eat your snack matter. This table pairs each key priority with a practical check.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergen | Read the full ingredients list and check separately for a warning about possible cross-contamination. | If I avoid a particular allergen, I want to assess both the recipe and the warnings for the product I’ve chosen. Around 31% of consumers put avoiding a specific allergen first. |
| Sulphites | Check the product information for sulphites and E220–E228; don’t infer the ingredients from the colour or the description ‘sun-dried’. | If sulphites are the deciding factor for me, I check for them separately from any food allergens. Around 25% of consumers make avoiding sulphites their top purchasing priority. |
| Taking it with you and eating in the canteen | Choose packaging that suits how you’ll use the product, and keep the product information. If it’s sold loose, ask for allergen information about the product being served. | If I bring a snack with me or eat in the canteen, I want to have the information about my chosen product to hand. Around 19% of consumers prioritise being able to check what they take with them and eat in the canteen. |
| Portion size and ingredients | Check the portion weight and whether sugar has been added; treat dietary advice separately from medical avoidance requirements. | If I’m mainly looking at portion size and added sugar, I want to weigh up the portion and ingredients. Around 13% of consumers put these dietary considerations first. |
| Pack size and cost | Compare the same type and variety of fruit by price per kilogram, and take portioning and storage into account. | If cost matters most to me, I compare the pack size with how much I use, but only among products that suit my diet. Around 12% of consumers prioritise cost and a practical pack size. |
A general description doesn’t necessarily tell you whether the full ingredients list suits your dietary needs. Ingredients and possible cross-contamination are separate things to consider.
Check the current packaging for the specific product, and read the ingredients and precautionary warnings separately.
Sulphites can be added to foods as a preservative. The Food Allergy Foundation lists E220–E228 as sulphite additives.
Check the product information for sulphites or E220–E228; don’t assume they are present or absent based on the colour or the term ‘sun-dried’.
Albert Heijn’s range distinguishes between dried fruit and mixes that include ingredients such as cashews or almonds.
If you avoid nuts, read the full product name and ingredients. A picture of fruit or a listing in the fruit category isn’t enough.
Pack sizes of several hundred grams need to be portioned out. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day; this is dietary advice, not a safety threshold for allergens or sulphites.
Choose packaging that suits how much you eat and portion it carefully. Follow the storage instructions for the product you choose.
The range includes dried apricots and raisins, as well as fruit and nut mixes.
Jumbo offers own-brand raisins, including sultanas, dark raisins and golden raisins.
The Alesto range includes dried fruit, such as dried mango strips, as well as nut products.
ALDI lists 500 g packs of raisins and 250 g packs of sun-dried apricots under the TRADER JOE’S name.
PLUS lists dried apricots in a 375 g stand-up pouch.
The range includes 375 g packs of golden raisins, among other raisin products.
These products are dried fruit options for a snack on the go or a lunch break. Check the current packaging and product information yourself for ingredients and any warnings; the product selection does not confirm that these products are suitable for a specific avoidance diet.
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The description lists six portions that you can take with you and eat straight away.
Size: 150 g, divided into 6 × 25 g portions. Ingredient listed in the product description: jackfruit (100%). Check the current packaging for allergen and cross-contamination information.
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The product description lists a 25 g portion as a snack you can eat straight away.
Size: 25 g. Ingredient listed in the product description: jackfruit (100%). Check the current packaging for allergen and cross-contamination information.
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The product description lists dried guava as a snack for when you’re out and about.
Size: 180 g. Ingredients listed in the product description: guava (95%), sugar and preservative. Check the current packaging for the full ingredients and allergen information.
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The description lists a 50 g pack that can be resealed after opening.
Size: 50 g. Ingredients listed in the product description: dried strawberries and sugar. Check the current packaging for allergen information and warnings.
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The description lists individual 14 g boxes to take with you.
Size: 10 boxes of 14 g (140 g in total). The product description states “No sulphites”; check the current packaging and information about possible cross-contamination. The description also states that the product is suitable only for infants over 12 months old.
No. A general description is no substitute for full allergen information. Check which ingredient you need to avoid, the ingredients list and any separate warning about possible cross-contamination. Information about legally recognised allergens doesn’t cover every personal allergy.
Yes. Businesses selling non-prepacked foods must tell consumers about any legally recognised allergens present. Ask about the product actually being offered and, if it contains cereals with gluten or nuts, which cereals or nuts are involved.
No. The date alone doesn’t mean that every pack will automatically have a new label. The NVWA has been enforcing the new rules since 1 January 2026. The official guidance uses the production date as its starting point and explains that older stock may be sold until it runs out under certain conditions, provided the food is not unsafe.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day. This is dietary advice, not a limit below which an allergen or sulphite is safe for you.
Yes. According to the European Commission, the rules for ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’ claims also apply to non-prepacked foods, such as food served in restaurants. A gluten-free claim doesn’t mean a product is free from other allergens.
