Choose dried fruit based on the substance you need to avoid, not on a general ‘free-from’ impression. Albert Heijn lists AH Dates as gluten- and lactose-free; AH Organic Dates also carry a warning about peanuts and nuts. Always check the current ingredients list and allergen warnings, and serve the fruit separately with clean utensils.
You’re looking for fruit that suits your gluten, lactose or other allergen restriction. To assess this, check the exact product rather than relying on the dried fruit category as a whole. Stichting Voedselallergie advises checking the full ingredients list for each product every time.
You want to identify added sulphites and any separate statement that a product contains sulphites. Unsulphured does not automatically mean that a product is completely free of sulphites when tested.
You want to serve products clearly and separately, taking ingredients, serving utensils and portions into account. Stichting Voedselallergie advises using clean crockery and cutlery.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should bear this in mind? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific free-from statement | Check for a statement relating to your dietary exclusion, and also read the full ingredients list and warnings. | If gluten or lactose is what I need to avoid, I want to see the precise statement on the product rather than relying on the type of fruit; around 33% of consumers prioritise this specific exclusion. |
| Sulphites | Check for ingredients such as E220–E228, as well as any separate statement that the product contains sulphites. | If I avoid sulphites, I check both parts of the product information; around 27% of consumers prioritise avoiding sulphites. |
| Cross-contamination | Check for warnings about your allergen and use clean, separate serving utensils. | When hosting a gathering for people with different dietary needs, I want to manage the risk of allergen transfer; around 27% of consumers prioritise reducing cross-contamination. |
| Ingredients and portion size | Compare ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g; don’t automatically treat the pack serving as a recommendation. | If I want to keep track of ingredients and quantity, I look at the ingredients and portion size; around 13% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
A product containing just one fruit ingredient may still carry a warning about peanuts or nuts. Vegan on its own also tells you nothing about sulphites.
Check your specific dietary exclusion against the current ingredients list and warnings.
Jumbo Blue Raisins lists raisins and oil in the ingredients, but also states that the product contains sulphites.
Read the full product specification as well as the packaging; don’t assume a short ingredients list means the product is sulphite-free.
Removing an unwanted ingredient doesn’t automatically make fruit that has come into contact with it suitable. If something has been added accidentally, you may need to prepare a separate replacement portion.
Serve the fruit you’ve checked separately, using clean, separate serving utensils.
Dried fruit can contain naturally occurring sugars. The Voedingscentrum recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day; this is dietary advice, not a legal limit for buying it.
Portion it out in advance and compare nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g.
Own-brand dates with product-specific dietary information.
A range of raisin varieties, each of which needs to be checked separately.
The Dutch product page lists dried fruit at selected stores.
The product page identifies a 500 g pack of Trader Joe’s raisins.
Own-brand dried apricots in a 375 g stand-up pouch.
The product page identifies a 200 g pack of stoneless apricots.
This selection includes dried dragon fruit, dates, guava, candied fruit and soursop for drinks and gatherings. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for each product; the product name alone does not confirm that it is suitable for a specific dietary exclusion.
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An option if you’re looking for dried dragon fruit to serve at a gathering.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen warnings against your dietary needs.
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Dates to serve as dried fruit at a gathering.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information before serving; don’t rely on the product name alone.
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An option if you’re looking for guava as dried fruit to serve at a gathering.
The product information lists sugar and a preservative as well as guava. Check the full ingredients list and allergen information.
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Candied fruit and candied dates for anyone who doesn’t need to avoid sulphites.
The ingredients information lists sulphites, sodium metabisulphite, malt syrup and white sugar. Don’t choose this product if you avoid sulphites.
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An option if you’d like to serve dried soursop at a gathering and don’t need to avoid sulphites.
The ingredients information lists sodium metabisulphite, sugar and glucose. Don’t choose this product if you avoid sulphites.
No. Lactose intolerance affects the digestion of lactose, while a food allergy is a reaction to proteins. If you have a cow’s milk allergy, check for milk ingredients and relevant warnings rather than relying only on a ‘lactose-free’ statement.
Use clean hands, clean crockery and separate serving utensils, and keep unsuitable additions apart. If a prohibited ingredient does come into contact with the fruit, don’t serve it to the affected guest; simply removing the ingredient is not enough. Stichting Voedselallergie advises using clean crockery and cutlery.
No, follow the storage instructions for the specific product. Albert Heijn says that AH Dates should be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7 °C. Jumbo says to store Sultana Raisins in a cool, dry, dark place.
The NVWA states that mandatory labelling covers 14 allergens, which must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list. For products without an ingredients list, there are rules requiring a statement that the product contains an allergen.
The Dutch policy on precautionary allergen labelling has applied since 1 January 2026. The NVWA lists warnings such as ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’; their use must be based on a risk assessment. A warning—or the absence of one—is not a general guarantee of zero risk.
