A larger pack may suit you if you eat dried fruit regularly, weigh your portions and compare the price per kilogram. If you only eat it occasionally, a smaller bag may be more practical. Pack size doesn’t determine how much you eat, so also compare the ingredients and energy information on the label with the amount you actually weigh out. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day.
You want to be able to weigh out your dried fruit and check its energy content on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides general guidance on daily amounts, while AH gives a serving size for its raisins.
For example, you use raisins in breakfasts or meals and want to know whether a larger pack suits how much you get through. Jumbo lists several pack sizes in its sultana range; compare sizes within the same product range.
You only eat dried fruit now and then and don’t want to buy more than is practical to keep in stock. The storage instructions on the pack and how often you use it can help you decide what quantity is right for you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also provides product-specific storage advice for dried fruit mix.
Start with how you normally use it: work out how much you weigh out each time, then compare pack size, ingredients and price per kilogram.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and energy | Check the energy per 100 g and weigh your own portion; a manufacturer’s serving size isn’t necessarily the same as the general guideline. | If I want to keep track of how much I eat, I need to be able to weigh out my actual portion and calculate its energy content. Around 36% of consumers say portion control is their top priority. |
| Price per kilogram | Compare the same type of fruit and product per kilogram, and check whether the total purchase suits how much you use. | If I eat dried fruit regularly, I want to know whether the larger bag really offers better value per kilogram. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a worthwhile price saving. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and compare total sugars, any listed added sugars and energy for the exact product variant. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I need to check the ingredients list rather than relying on the product name alone. Around 21% of consumers put ingredients first. |
| Stock and storage | Choose a pack size that matches how much you use and follow the storage instructions for that exact pack. | If I only use dried fruit occasionally, I don’t want to keep more in stock than is practical. Around 14% of consumers say keeping a suitable amount in stock is their top priority. |
The amount in a bulk pack doesn’t tell you how much to eat at a time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day; a manufacturer may list a different serving size.
Weigh out the amount you use separately and calculate its energy content using the label and that weight.
Added sugars and total sugars are different figures. The PLUS Sultana listing shows 0 g of added sugars and 68,2 g of total sugars per 100 g.
Check the ingredients, total sugars and energy together; don’t let a no-added-sugar claim replace checking the portion.
It’s not fair to compare packs of different weights using the total price alone. The price per kilogram can also vary between pack sizes within the same product range.
Compare products in the same range by price per kilogram and buy an amount that suits how much you normally use.
Storage advice can vary by product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre refers to product-specific instructions for dried fruit mix; these don’t automatically apply to every other type of dried fruit.
Check the best-before date and follow the storage instructions on your product’s pack.
The AH Raisins product listing is an example of a smaller pack for everyday shopping.
The listed sun-dried sultana range includes several pack sizes.
The Dutch website lists dried fruit and a dried fruit mix.
ALDI lists Trader Joe's Raisins as a relevant pack for everyday shopping.
PLUS Sultana raisins are a store-brand product with ingredients and nutritional information.
Dirk lists raisins in several pack sizes.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g shown on the label by the number of grams you’ve weighed out, then divide by 100. For a 20 g portion of PLUS Sultana raisins, that’s 342 × 20 ÷ 100 = 68,4 kcal; this is a calculation based on the label value.
No. A manufacturer’s serving size is product information; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day as general dietary guidance. Values can vary: for example, AH lists a manufacturer’s serving size of 50 g.
Follow the instructions on your product’s pack. The raisin labels checked advise storing the product in a cool, dry, dark place. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends keeping dried fruit mix in a well-sealed container; don’t automatically apply this advice to every other type of fruit.
Check the ingredients list and any additional allergen information for the exact product variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on food labels. If you have a food allergy, also check the pack you actually receive.
Compare the same type of fruit and product range by price per kilogram, and choose an amount that matches how much you normally use. A lower price per kilogram doesn’t automatically make a larger portion suitable; weigh out what you use and check the label for ingredients and nutritional values.
