Who is this guide for?

Portions to take along, with no preparation

You want small packs that you can hand out or take with you straight away. According to the retailers’ product information, the boxes checked from Albert Heijn and Jumbo each contain 14 grams.

Buffet host who wants to portion it out themselves

You want to weigh out the portions yourself and choose between plain raisins and a fruit mix. PLUS lists a 375-gram Sultana stand-up pouch and 500 grams of Tutti frutti.

Shopper who checks the ingredients

You compare ingredients and added and naturally occurring sugars, or check allergens for your guests. Albert Heijn states that its Hamsterchef Raisins contain no added sugar; Jumbo’s product information warns that traces of nuts, milk and soya, among other things, may be present.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you’re taking dried fruit to a Boxing Day buffet or serving it there, your choice mainly depends on portioning convenience, ingredients, allergens and what you’ll do with a larger pack.

Ready-to-hand-out portion boxes

A good fit if: you want small portions ready to serve without weighing them out yourself. Albert Heijn lists 10 boxes of 14 grams; Jumbo lists 14 boxes of 14 grams.

Keep in mind: the quantity and type of fruit are fixed; Jumbo states that traces of nuts, milk and soya may be present.

A larger bag to portion out yourself

A good fit if: you want to decide how much fruit each guest gets. PLUS lists a 375-gram Sultana stand-up pouch; ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S Raisins, 500 grams.

Keep in mind: you’ll need to weigh out the portions yourself and store the remainder according to the product instructions.

Mixed dried fruit

A good fit if: you’d rather offer several types of fruit. PLUS lists 500 grams of Tutti frutti.

Keep in mind: check the ingredients of the variety you choose; the ALDI page groups together options including one with cranberries and raisins and a cashew nut variety.

What to consider What should you check? Who should pay particular attention?
Small portions to take along Check the weight of each box and the number of boxes. Albert Heijn lists 10 portions of 14 grams; Jumbo lists 14 portions of 14 grams. If I want portions ready to serve without weighing them out, I check the number of boxes and the weight per portion. Around 29% of consumers prioritise convenience when taking and handing out portions.
Sugars and ingredients Compare the ingredients list with the nutrition table per 100 grams. For Hamsterchef Raisins, Albert Heijn lists 0 grams of added sugar and 65 grams of sugars per 100 grams. If you want to compare what’s in the product, check both the ingredients and the nutritional values. Around 24% of consumers put sugar and ingredients at the top of their list.
Single fruit or a mix Read which types of fruit are in the variety you choose. PLUS lists 500 grams of Tutti frutti; ALDI’s information groups together several varieties, including one with cashew nuts. If I want to offer different types of fruit, I check the exact variety rather than relying on the product category alone. Around 18% of consumers prioritise fruit variety.
Allergens Read the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging. Jumbo lists possible traces of almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, milk, soya and walnuts; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains the allergen information required on prepacked products. If a guest has one of the allergies listed, I want to check the packaging carefully. Around 18% of consumers consider allergens their deciding priority.
Quantity and leftovers Choose a pack that suits the number of portions you want to make. PLUS says to store its raisins in a cool, dry, dark place. If I weigh out portions myself, I also want to know how to store any leftovers according to the product instructions. Around 11% of consumers focus mainly on quantity and leftovers.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. This is dietary advice, not a rule for packaging or buffets; remember to count any dried fruit you eat at other times that day.

Common pitfalls

  • Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Albert Heijn states that Hamsterchef Raisins contain 0 grams of added sugar, but also 65 grams of sugars per 100 grams. This doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.

    Check both the ingredients and the nutrition table, and consider how much you’ll actually serve.

  • Assuming a fruit mix is suitable for everyone

    The ALDI page groups together different varieties, including one with cashew nuts. For its little raisin treats, Jumbo warns that traces of nuts, milk and soya, among other things, may be present.

    Check the exact variety and the current packaging if you or a guest has an allergy.

  • Choosing a larger bag without planning the portions

    A bag means weighing out the portions yourself and may leave you with leftovers, whereas portion boxes are already divided up.

    Work out how many small portions you need and follow the storage instructions for an opened pack.

    Weighing and portioning it yourself takes time to prepare, and some of the pack may go unused.

  • Treating an old recall as a general warning about the brand

    The historical Jumbo warning, published by Productwaarschuwing.nl with a cited update from Jumbo, identified a specific batch of little raisin treats: 14 boxes, barcode 8718452534326 and best-before date 28-07-2026. That date has passed; the notice applied to that batch and is not a general statement about all Jumbo raisins.

    If you see a recall notice, check the product name, barcode and best-before date against the packaging.

Brands and product ranges for reference

Albert Heijn

According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Hamsterchef Raisins are an option with portions already divided up.

  • The pack contains 10 boxes of 14 grams.
  • Albert Heijn lists 97% raisins, sunflower oil and 0 grams of added sugar per 100 grams.
  • The portions contain raisins; the product information also lists 65 grams of sugars per 100 grams.

Jumbo

According to Jumbo’s product information, Jumbo Raisin Treat Boxes, 14 Pieces, are an option for handing out portions of raisins.

  • The pack contains 14 boxes of 14 grams.
  • The product information lists raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients.
  • Jumbo warns that traces of almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, milk, soya and walnuts may be present.

Lidl

Lidl lists a product called Dried Fruit Mix.

  • The product name is a useful starting point if you’re looking for a mix.
  • The product name alone doesn’t tell you about the ingredients or portion size.

ALDI

ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S Raisins, 500 grams, and a cranberry and raisin option in a range of 200-gram packs.

  • The 500-gram pack of raisins is an option if you want to weigh out portions yourself.
  • ALDI’s information says the 200-gram range comes in a resealable pack.
  • The range page groups together different varieties, so you can’t assume the ingredients or composition without checking the specific packaging.

PLUS

PLUS lists both Sultana raisins and Tutti frutti for anyone who wants to weigh out portions themselves or is looking for a mix.

  • The Sultana stand-up pouch contains 375 grams; according to PLUS, the ingredients are raisins and sunflower oil.
  • PLUS lists Tutti frutti in a 500-gram pack.
  • The stand-up pouch isn’t a ready-to-go portion. For its raisins, PLUS lists 68.2 grams of sugars per 100 grams, alongside 0 grams of added sugar.
  • PLUS says to store the raisins in a cool, dry, dark place.

Dirk

Dirk’s range overview lists several types of dried fruit that you can portion out yourself.

  • Examples listed include 1 de Beste Sultana Raisins, 375 grams; Cranberries, 200 grams; and Pitted Prunes, 375 grams.
  • The overview gives product names and pack weights, not an overall quality ranking or full ingredient information.

Joybuy products

These products are suitable for serving dried fruit at a buffet, with options for sharing and pre-portioned servings.

Be&Cheery Various Dried Plum 90 g

Be&Cheery Various Dried Plum 90 g

A 90-gram bag could be a good choice if you want to take dried plums along to share.

The product information lists plums, white sugar, salt and flavourings as ingredients, and states that it contains 3.0 grams of salt per 100 grams.

View at Joybuy
Sundrop Mini Raisin Handouts 252 g

Sundrop Mini Raisin Handouts 252 g

The product name identifies this as a mini sharing pack, making it a suitable option if you want to hand out portions of raisins.

The product information lists 99.5% raisins and sunflower oil. Follow the storage advice on the packaging and keep the pack closed after opening.

View at Joybuy
De Kleine Keuken Organic raisins 12M+ 140 g

De Kleine Keuken Organic raisins 12M+ 140 g

The product information lists 10 individual boxes of 14 grams, making this a suitable option if you want to take pre-portioned servings with you.

According to the product information, the product contains organic raisins and no added sugars. It is suitable from 12 months; children should be supervised while eating, and the product is not suitable for children with swallowing difficulties.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How much dried fruit is in each portion box?

According to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, each box of the AH Hamsterchef Raisins and Jumbo Raisin Treats checked contains 14 grams. The AH pack contains 10 boxes and the Jumbo pack contains 14; this doesn’t necessarily apply to other products.

Does ‘no added sugar’ mean that raisins are sugar-free?

No. Albert Heijn states that Hamsterchef Raisins contain 0 grams of added sugar, but also 65 grams of sugars per 100 grams. Compare the ingredients with the nutrition table.

Can I serve a fruit mix to guests with an allergy without checking it?

No, check the ingredients and warnings on the exact pack. Jumbo warns that traces of nuts, milk and soya, among other things, may be present; ALDI’s range information also includes a variety with cashew nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains that allergen information for prepacked products appears on the label.

How should I store an opened pack of dried fruit?

Follow the instructions for the product you choose. Albert Heijn and PLUS say to store their raisins in a cool, dark, dry place; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends keeping dried tutti frutti in a well-sealed container.

Which Jumbo raisin treats were covered by the historical recall?

According to Productwaarschuwing.nl’s notice about an update from Jumbo, the warning concerned 14 boxes with barcode 8718452534326 and best-before date 28-07-2026. The date has passed, and the warning about that specific batch is not a general statement about all Jumbo raisins.