Bulk buyers who portion it themselves
If your household regularly eats dried fruit, you can compare pack sizes and weigh out portions yourself, rather than letting the size of the bag dictate how much you eat.
Who is this relevant for?
Exercisers who carefully weigh their snacks
If you want a small snack before a workout, the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g can help you assess the amount you weigh out yourself.
Occasional snackers
If you don’t eat dried fruit often, a smaller pack may better suit how much you use than a large bulk bag.
What should you look for when buying?
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and price per kilogram | Compare the price per kilogram and net weight of the same type of fruit, and consider how much your household uses. | If you regularly keep raisins at home and portion them yourself, the balance between stock and how much you use matters. Around 33% of consumers put value for money first when buying. |
| Portion and when you eat it | Check the carbohydrates and fibre per portion you weigh out yourself; don’t treat the manufacturer’s serving size as personal advice. | If you want to choose a small snack to suit the time you’ll eat it before a workout, focus on the amount rather than the size of the bag. Around 33% of consumers prioritise choosing a snack to suit the occasion. |
| Ingredients and sugar | Read the ingredients for the exact variant and distinguish added sugars from total sugars. | If you want to check the contents of raisins or a mix, the ingredients list may be decisive. Around 17% of consumers prioritise checking the ingredients. |
| Portioning and storage | Check whether the pack is resealable and follow the storage and use-by or best-before information on the packaging. | If you take small amounts and want to store the rest, a practical closure and the storage instructions are relevant. Around 17% of consumers prioritise convenience. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day as general dietary guidance. This is not a legal limit or personal advice about what to eat around a workout. So a larger pack is no reason to have a larger portion.
Common buying mistakes
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Treating the portion on the pack as personal snack advice
A serving size given by a manufacturer isn’t automatically suited to when you plan to eat it. For example, Albert Heijn lists a serving size of 50 g, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s general guidance for dried fruit is no more than 20 g a day.
Weigh out the amount you want to eat and don’t let the size of the pack dictate your portion.
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Comparing only the price of the bag
A lower total price doesn’t automatically mean a lower price per kilogram. Pack sizes also vary between shops and products.
Compare the same type of fruit by price per kilogram, then check whether the amount suits how much you use.
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Assuming a fruit or nut mix is the same as plain raisins
A mix may contain different ingredients from a bag of raisins. ALDI’s product information includes variants with cashew nuts and cranberry and raisin mixes.
Check the exact variant name and ingredients before comparing products.
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Treating a product name or serving information as proof of sports performance
Shop information about ingredients and nutritional values is not a comparative sports test, and it doesn’t prove that a particular own-brand product will improve your workout.
Use product information to compare pack sizes and ingredients, not to assume a particular performance outcome.
Brands and product ranges for reference
Albert Heijn
According to Albert Heijn, AH Raisins comes in a smaller 250 g pack and includes product information about its ingredients and nutritional values.
- The product information lists raisins and sunflower oil, and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- The stated 50 g serving is not personal advice for a snack before exercise.
Jumbo
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Sun-dried Sultana Raisins comes in a 500 g pack with label information.
- The ingredients are raisins and cottonseed oil; Jumbo lists 0.5 g of fat per 100 g.
- Jumbo states that the presence of a stalk or stone cannot be entirely ruled out. The product information is not an independent sports test.
Lidl
Lidl has product pages for Belbake Raisins and dried fruit mix.
- The product pages identify these product ranges.
- The mix isn’t necessarily the same as plain raisins; compare the exact ingredients and pack size.
ALDI
ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S Raisins in a 500 g pack and mixed variants in 200 g packs.
- ALDI lists the mix as coming in a resealable pack; TRADER JOE'S is the product brand and ALDI is the supermarket chain.
- Ingredients vary between variants. Retailer claims about quality are not independent evidence that a product is suitable before exercise.
PLUS
According to PLUS, PLUS Sultana raisins comes in a 375 g pack with information about its ingredients and nutritional values.
- The ingredients are raisins and sunflower oil; the product information lists 0 g of added sugars and 5.5 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The nutritional information doesn’t prove that the product is easier for everyone to tolerate.
Dirk
Dirk lists Raisins in a 750 g pack, which may be useful if you want to compare larger pack sizes.
- The shop information confirms the pack size.
- The product name alone doesn’t make clear which brand or ingredients are in this bag; check the packaging.
Joybuy products
These Joybuy products are suitable as dried fruit snacks; check the variant and the information on the packaging for each product.
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Anatolia Sari Uzum Raisins 500gr
A bulk pack of raisins for anyone who wants to weigh out their own snack portions.
The product information lists 100% dried grapes and says to seal the pack tightly after opening.
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HuaWeiHeng Cheese-Flavoured Freeze-Dried Fruit Mix 28g
Only relevant if you’re looking for a small bag of mixed, flavoured snacks; this isn’t a value pack of plain raisins.
The product information lists white chocolate and cheese, soya and milk, and 30.4 g of fat per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises choosing products that aren’t high in fat before exercise.
The listed best-before date is 24 September 2026, which has passed. Don’t buy this product based on that information; first check that the current pack has a valid best-before date.
Frequently asked questions
Is 20 g of dried fruit a mandatory limit for people who exercise?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day as general dietary guidance; it’s not a legal limit on what you can buy or an individual sports nutrition plan.
Does 0 g of added sugars mean that raisins are sugar-free?
No. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g for AH Raisins. Check both values on the information for the exact variant.
How should I store an opened bag of raisins?
Follow the instructions on the packaging. Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn advise storing the raisins they describe in a cool, dry, dark place; seal the pack tightly after opening if the product information says to do so.
What should I check on the label if I have a food allergy?
Check the ingredients list and any cross-contamination warning for the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that the required information about 14 allergens must appear in the ingredients list; a simple ingredients list isn’t a general guarantee that a product is allergen-free.
Can I always return a value pack bought online?
No, there are exceptions. According to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, online purchases generally come with a 14-day cooling-off period after delivery, but there are legal exceptions, including for products that spoil quickly. Check which terms apply to the specific product.
What should I do if a safety warning is issued for my product?
Compare the product, packaging and batch details with the warning from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and follow the instructions given.