First, choose a type of dried fruit that suits the specific ingredients or allergens you need to avoid; a diet label is not a blanket guarantee that a product is allergen-free. Then check for added sugars and consider how much you eat: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day.
You’re looking for dried fruit that suits a specific allergy or intolerance. Check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the exact packaging; general health claims won’t answer that question. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on labels.
You want to weigh your portion of dried fruit and compare nutritional values for the same amount. The portion size on the packaging is not necessarily the same as the recommendation from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
You’re looking for a variety with no added sugar and want to distinguish this from a product with no sugars at all. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that fruit naturally contains sugar.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary suitability | Check the ingredients, the specific diet label and any warnings on the exact product. | If I need to avoid a particular allergen or ingredient, I want to check the ingredients and warnings carefully. Around 34% of consumers prioritise dietary suitability. |
| Portion size | Weigh your portion and compare nutritional values for the same amount. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. | I want to decide how much to eat in advance, rather than automatically following the portion size on the packaging. Around 33% of consumers prioritise portion control. |
| Added sugar | Read both the ingredients list and the nutritional information; no added sugar doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I want to know what’s in the ingredients list and how much total sugar the product contains. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this criterion. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the exact packaging. | I want to choose packaging that suits how I’ll use it at home or on the go, without treating the pack contents as a snack portion. Around 13% of consumers prioritise practical storage and use. |
A claim such as gluten-free or lactose-free answers only that specific question. You need to assess the ingredients and possible presence of other allergens separately.
Start by identifying exactly what you need to avoid, then check the information for the exact product and packaging.
Albert Heijn lists a 50-gram portion for AH Raisins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day, so the two amounts serve different purposes.
Weigh the amount you actually eat and compare it with the recommendation from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Sugar occurs naturally in fruit. PLUS Dried Apricots lists 0 grams of added sugars and 53.4 grams of total sugars per 100 grams; PLUS is the source of this product-specific nutritional information.
Read both the ingredients and the nutritional information, and bear your own portion size in mind.
A general product description won’t tell you whether a specific variety suits your dietary restriction or portion preferences.
Use the ingredients, allergen information and portion details for the exact product to assess whether it’s right for you.
The product varieties mentioned provide different types of information about dietary features, ingredients and packaging. Always assess the exact product; information about one product does not automatically apply to the whole brand.
AH Raisins 250 g is labelled as suitable for gluten-free and lactose-free diets.
Jumbo Dried Pitted Apricots 250 g provides nutritional information per 100 grams and per 20-gram portion.
Lidl’s Alesto range includes products such as dried mango strips.
ALDI Netherlands product information lists Trader Joe’s Raisins in a 500-gram pack.
PLUS Dried Apricots 375 g lists added and total sugars separately.
Dirk sells 1 de Beste Apricots in a 375-gram pack.
This selection of Joybuy products includes raisins and dried plums. Compare the ingredients, dietary claims and pack format for each variety; a claim made about one product does not automatically apply to the others.
No image available
The product description gives nutritional information per 100 grams, which you can use to compare with a weighed portion.
According to the product description, the product consists of 99.5% raisins and sunflower oil. It also states that the product contains none of the 14 major EU allergens; check the current packaging against your specific dietary restriction.
No image available
The pack of small boxes may be handy if you’re looking for a pre-measured portion, but the product is intended for a specific age group.
The product description states that the pack contains 10 boxes of 14 grams and is suitable only for babies over 12 months old. It also advises supervising children while they eat and says the product is unsuitable for anyone with swallowing difficulties.
No image available
This variety isn’t suitable if you want to avoid added sugar; check the ingredients on the exact packaging.
The product description lists white sugar and salt as ingredients. Nutritional information is provided per 100 grams.
No. The recommendation to eat no more than 20 grams a day comes from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre; it is not a legal purchase limit or personalised weight-loss advice.
No. Sugar occurs naturally in fruit. PLUS lists 0 grams of added sugars and 53.4 grams of total sugars per 100 grams for its dried apricots, so check both figures and consider your portion size.
The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation describes reactions to sulphites as intolerance reactions. Sulphites may be used as a preservative in dried fruit; check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens which must be declared have to appear clearly in the ingredients list. Check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
In the Netherlands, new rules have applied since 1 January 2026 on how and when food businesses must warn about the unintended presence of allergens; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has been monitoring compliance since 2026. Such a warning concerns possible presence and is different from an ingredient that has been deliberately added.
