Start with the specific ingredient or allergen you need to avoid, then check the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging. Next, consider how the snack fits into your nutrition plan: everyday foods may be enough for many people who exercise, while longer or more intense rides may call for more careful planning around energy and eating times. Unsulphured dried fruit may be worth looking for if you are sensitive to sulphites; it does not mean the product is free from other allergens.
If you need to avoid a specific allergen, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact product packaging before choosing based on flavour or pack size. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) requires allergen information to appear on the label of prepacked products.
Unsulphured may be a useful search term if sulphites are a concern for you. Also check the other ingredients and allergen information: the term does not mean that a product is free from all allergens.
You want to fit a snack around your eating times and energy needs without assuming that every ride calls for specialist sports nutrition. KNWU Fondo emphasises that your nutrition should match your level of effort, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that everyday foods may be enough for many people who exercise.
First, check the information you need for your dietary restriction. Then consider the ingredients, your ride plans and how convenient the packaging is. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has been checking during inspections whether labels on prepacked products include appropriate warnings about allergen cross-contamination.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergen | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the packaging you choose. | If I need to avoid a particular allergen, I want to check the exact product before taking it with me. Around 36% of consumers prioritise suitability for a specific allergen or sulphite restriction. |
| Nutrition during your ride | Check the nutritional values for the portion you actually eat and how it fits into your overall nutrition plan. | For a longer bike ride, I want to plan my eating times around the effort involved, rather than automatically buying extra snacks. Around 29% of consumers give top priority to planning their energy intake and eating times. |
| Added sugar | Check the ingredients list for added ingredients, and look at the nutritional values for your portion too. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I want to be able to distinguish it from the sugar naturally present in fruit. Around 21% of consumers prioritise the ingredients they want. |
| Pack size and storage | Check the pack contents and storage instructions, and whether the way you buy it suits you. | If I want to prepare portions for several bike rides, I check the pack size and how it should be stored. Around 14% of consumers give top priority to practical shopping, storage and portioning. |
Unsulphured is specifically relevant if you are sensitive to sulphites, but it does not replace checking for other allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that unsulphured products are not automatically a better choice for people without sulphite sensitivity. Choose an amount that suits your ride and overall nutrition plan; KNWU Fondo emphasises that your nutrition should match your level of effort.
Unsulphured tells you something about sulphite treatment, not whether other allergens are present. Sulphite sensitivity is also not the same as an allergy.
Use unsulphured as a specific search term if sulphites are relevant to you, and check the information about other allergens separately.
Fruit naturally contains sugar, so a product with no added sugar is not automatically sugar-free.
Check both the ingredients list and the nutritional values for the amount you plan to eat.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that many people who exercise can get enough energy and fluid from everyday foods. What suits you will also depend on your ride and overall nutrition plan.
Before buying extra food, work out which eating times and portion sizes fit your plan.
A place to look for products including AH Abrikozen ongezwaveld, if you’re specifically searching for an unsulphured option.
A useful place to look for raisins in different pack sizes and an organic sultana variety.
Lidl presents Alesto as a range that includes dried fruit.
A place to look for Trader Joe's raisins in a 500 g pack.
The PLUS product page lists PLUS Sultana rozijnen in a 375 g stand-up pouch.
A place to look for raisins in a 750 g pack.
The NVWA requires allergen information to appear on the labels of prepacked products. This information requirement covers the 14 specified allergens, including cereals containing gluten, peanuts, nuts, milk, sesame and sulphites. It is a requirement to provide information, not a guarantee that a product is suitable for every diet.
Yes. The NVWA announced that, from 1 January 2026, inspections would check whether labels on prepacked products include appropriate warnings about allergen cross-contamination. That date has now passed, so check the warnings on the packaging you buy.
Not automatically: unsulphured means the product has not been treated with sulphites, but it says nothing about other allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says unsulphured products are mainly relevant for people with sulphite sensitivity. For your own diet, also check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that many people who exercise can get enough energy and fluid from everyday foods. Do make sure your choices suit your bike ride and overall nutrition plan; that does not mean any random variety of dried fruit will automatically suit your diet.
No. Fruit naturally contains sugar, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Diabetes Fund explain. Check the ingredients list for added ingredients, and look at the nutritional values for the portion you eat.
