Choose dried fruit according to the child’s dietary requirements, and check the ingredients and relevant warnings on the exact product packaging. Albert Heijn and PLUS label specific raisin products as gluten-free and lactose-free, but this does not establish whether they are suitable for, for example, a nut or cow’s milk protein allergy. Also make sure the portion and form are appropriate for the child, and ensure young children eat calmly while seated and supervised.
If you’re looking for dried fruit for a child with specific allergy or intolerance requirements, this advice is for you. The distinction between ingredients, cross-contamination, lactose and milk protein determines what information you need.
If you’d like to offer toddlers or very young children a small serving of fruit, this advice is for you. Consider their eating skills, make sure they sit calmly, supervise them and keep the portion modest.
If you’re organising groceries and portions to hand out at several mealtimes, this advice is for you. Choose a pack size and storage method that fit the childcare setting’s food safety procedures.
Start with the child’s dietary requirements, then consider safe serving, portion size and practical packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific diet | Check the full ingredients list and any warnings about the relevant allergen on the exact product packaging. A gluten-free or lactose-free label does not automatically answer other dietary questions. | If a child has specific dietary requirements, I want to be able to check whether this particular product is suitable; around 34% of consumers prioritise dietary suitability. |
| Sulphites | Check whether sulphites or sulphur dioxide, including E220–E228, are relevant to the diet, and look at the information for the product you’ve chosen. Stichting Voedselallergie lists dried fruit as a product group in which high levels of sulphites may occur. | If sulphites need to be limited under the dietary requirements, I look for information about the specific fruit and packaging; around 20% of consumers put sulphites first when choosing. |
| Safe serving | Choose a form that suits the child’s eating skills and take any packaging warnings into account. VeiligheidNL advises that young children should eat calmly while seated, with an adult staying nearby. | When I offer fruit to young children, I want to choose a form that suits their ability to chew and swallow; around 20% of consumers prioritise eating safety. |
| Portion and sugars | Check added sugars and total sugars separately, and decide how much will actually be served. Voedingscentrum recommends a small portion of raisins. | For a small serving of fruit, I want to be able to choose the portion carefully, without assuming that ‘no added sugars’ means low in total sugars; around 13% of consumers prioritise portion size and sugar. |
| Stock and storage | Compare the net weight with the portions you need, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging and those of the childcare setting. | When I’m buying for several mealtimes, I want packaging that’s practical to portion and store; around 13% of consumers prioritise convenience when stocking up. |
Gluten-free and lactose-free each answer a specific question. On its own, lactose-free says nothing about milk proteins, which are relevant to cow’s milk protein allergy.
Check the label against the child’s specific dietary requirements, and review the full ingredients list and any relevant cross-contamination warnings.
Albert Heijn lists almonds or cashews among the ingredients in some fruit mixes. Added nuts can affect whether a product is suitable for a specific diet.
Read the full ingredients list for the mix, rather than choosing based only on the fruit shown on the packaging.
Specific raisin products from Albert Heijn and PLUS state that they contain 0 g of added sugars, but also contain 59 g and 68,2 g of total sugars per 100 g respectively. Voedingscentrum recommends a small portion.
Consider total sugars alongside the amount you’ll actually serve. A portion size shown on the packaging is not automatically a recommendation for every child.
PLUS warns that raisins may contain stalks and stones despite careful checks. Ready-packed fruit does not remove your responsibility to serve it appropriately.
Take the product warning into account and choose a form that suits the child’s eating skills. Make sure young children eat calmly while seated and supervise them.
Offers plain raisins and fruit mixes; the specific product information can help you check suitability for a particular diet.
The raisin category includes boxes described as a handy way to hand out portions.
The Dutch product page describes dried fruit and states that it is available in selected stores.
The product page checked describes raisins in a 500 g pack.
PLUS Sultana rozijnen is a plain variety in a 375 g stand-up pouch.
Search results include raisins, sultanas and currants in a range of pack sizes.
This selection consists of freeze-dried jackfruit in individual packs. Don’t take the product information as proof that a variety is suitable for every specific diet; check the ingredients and relevant warnings on the packaging.
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A possible option if you’re looking for freeze-dried jackfruit in individual packs; the product name states that it contains six 25 g packs.
The pack size is not a recommended portion for children. Check the ingredients and relevant warnings against the child’s dietary requirements.
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A possible option if you’re looking for an individually packed portion of freeze-dried jackfruit; the product name states that it comes in a 25 g pack.
The pack size is not a recommended portion for children. Check the ingredients and relevant warnings against the dietary requirements and childcare procedures.
Not as your only criterion. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, whereas cow’s milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. If a child has a cow’s milk allergy, check the relevant ingredients and cross-contamination information in line with their dietary requirements.
Check warnings for the allergen that is relevant to the child’s dietary requirements, and distinguish between an allergen deliberately included in the ingredients and possible accidental presence. Since 1 January 2026, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has checked compliance with labelling rules during inspections; Voedingscentrum explains that warnings should be based on a genuine risk of cross-contamination.
Check for sulphites if they need to be avoided under the child’s dietary requirements. Stichting Voedselallergie lists dried fruit as a product group in which high levels of sulphites may occur, so check the information for the specific fruit and packaging rather than relying on the name of the fruit alone.
No. You should also consider the form of the fruit and the child’s eating skills. Voedingscentrum sets out guidance on sitting upright, chewing and swallowing when offering larger pieces to babies. VeiligheidNL advises that young children should eat calmly while seated, with an adult staying nearby.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and the childcare setting’s food safety procedures. Voedingscentrum says opened raisins can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for 6–9 months; AH and PLUS advise storing their products in a cool, dark and dry place. Throw away any mouldy or unusual-looking raisins.
