First, choose dried fruit whose ingredients and allergen information meet your needs; only then consider how much your household uses. A short ingredients list doesn’t rule out cross-contamination, and claims such as ‘gluten-free’ say nothing about sulphites on their own.
You want to check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings before buying a larger quantity. A brand name or short ingredients list isn’t enough. The NVWA and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre stress the importance of allergen information on the label.
You need to avoid sulphites, or want to discuss with a healthcare professional whether sulphite sensitivity is relevant to you. Check for sulphites separately from other food claims. Albert Heijn lists sulphites for its specific soaked dried apricots, and the Food Allergy Foundation describes sulphite as a preservative.
You regularly eat dried fruit and want a pack size that suits how much you use, without letting quantity take priority over allergen restrictions. The examples in this article range from 375 g to 750 g.
Check the ingredients and allergen information first, including warnings about possible unintended presence. Then weigh up sulphites, pack size and storage. The NVWA rules for allergen warnings, in force since 1 January 2026, link warnings about possible cross-contamination to a risk assessment and reference values.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and cross-contamination | Read the full ingredients list and any warnings on the current packaging. | If I need to check what’s in a product because of an allergy, I want to be able to assess that information before buying a larger pack. Around 42% of consumers prioritise label information they can check. |
| Sulphites | Check the ingredients and allergen information for sulphites and relevant preservatives. | If I need to avoid sulphites, I check for them separately from, for example, a gluten claim. Around 25% of consumers say avoiding sulphites is the deciding factor. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with how much your household actually uses. | If we eat dried fruit regularly, I want to choose a quantity that suits how much we use. Around 25% of consumers focus mainly on quantity and choosing a suitable amount. |
| Storage and waste | Follow the storage instructions on the specific pack and consider how often you use the product. | If I only use dried fruit occasionally, I want to avoid leaving a large supply unused. Around 8% of consumers prioritise storage and avoiding waste. |
The specific AH Soaked Dried Apricots product lists sulphites. Another food claim doesn’t automatically tell you whether the product is suitable for what you need to avoid.
Check the substance you need to avoid separately in the ingredients list and allergen information.
The NVWA treats warnings about possible unintended presence separately from ingredients deliberately added to a product.
Read both the ingredients and any warnings, and follow the advice you’ve been given about what to avoid.
The AH dried fruit range also includes products containing cashew nuts or almonds.
If you need to avoid nuts, check the full product name and ingredients. The shelf category alone doesn’t tell you what’s inside.
A larger pack won’t necessarily suit how much you use. The raisin examples in this article vary in net weight, from 375 g to 750 g.
Choose a size your household will actually use, and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Worth considering for dried apricots and for a range that also includes fruit and nut mixes.
Worth considering if you want to compare 500 g or 750 g packs of plain sultana raisins.
A shop option for dried fruit; the listing applies to selected stores.
Worth considering as a shop option for a 500 g bag of raisins sold under the Trader Joe's name.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a smaller 375 g pack of PLUS Sultana raisins.
Worth considering as a shop option for raisins in a 750 g pack.
This selection includes dried raisins, guava and strawberries in a range of pack sizes. Before buying, check the current ingredients list and any allergen warnings on the packaging. The product details below don’t establish whether a product is suitable for a specific allergy.
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A good option if you’re looking for a 500 g pack of raisins to enjoy as a snack or use in recipes.
The product description states that it contains 100% dried grapes.
Check the current packaging for the full ingredients list and any allergen warnings.
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A good option if you’re looking for black raisins to enjoy as a snack or use in recipes.
The product title states that the pack contains 500 g.
Check the current packaging for the full ingredients list and any allergen warnings.
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A good option if you’re looking for dried guava to enjoy as a snack or use as an ingredient.
The product description states that it contains 95% guava, and lists sugar and a preservative as ingredients.
Check the current packaging for the full ingredients list and any allergen warnings.
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A good option if you’re looking for individually portioned sultana raisins for snacks, baking or breakfast cereal.
The title states 250 g; the product description mentions 10 boxes of 14 g. Check the net weight and portion details on the current packaging.
The product description lists raisins and sunflower oil. It states that the product is intended for children aged 12 months and over, who should be supervised while eating, and is not suitable for children with swallowing difficulties.
Check the current packaging for the full ingredients list and any allergen warnings.
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A good option if you’re looking for a small pack of dried strawberries to enjoy as a snack or use as a topping.
The product description lists dried strawberries and sugar as ingredients; the product title states 50 g.
Check the current packaging for the full ingredients list and any allergen warnings.
According to the NVWA, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label. The required information covers 14 groups, including peanuts, nuts and sulphites. This doesn’t mean that these groups cover every possible food allergy.
New rules have been in force in the Netherlands since 1 January 2026, and the NVWA oversees them. A risk assessment must determine whether possible cross-contamination could exceed the applicable reference values. If it can’t, a warning must not be added. This doesn’t guarantee zero risk for every individual consumer.
No. The Food Allergy Foundation describes a reaction to sulphite as an intolerance reaction. When choosing a product, check specifically for sulphites and don’t treat this as the same diagnosis as a food allergy.
Yes, check the packaging again before eating the product. Albert Heijn recommends this because ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change.
Follow the storage advice on the specific pack. The Storage Guide recommends keeping opened dried apricots in a kitchen cupboard for 6–9 months. This advice doesn’t automatically apply to soaked apricots, other types of fruit or fruit mixes.
