Which pack is right for you?

Ready to snack on the go

You want to grab an individual mini box without weighing anything out at the festival or carrying a large bag. Jumbo describes its raisin boxes as handy for on the go; check the contents of each box in the variety you choose.

Take one portion with you

You want to decide in advance how much you’ll eat and check the ingredients. PLUS product information lists a 375 g larger bag, not a ready-to-eat snack portion.

Plan several snack breaks

You want to reseal the same pack between snack breaks or prepare several portions at home. ALDI lists a resealable pack for a 200 g product range; check the ingredients of the variety you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a street festival, your choice mainly depends on how you want to take your portion with you: pre-packed, resealable or measured out at home.

Individual mini box

A good fit if: you want to take or hand out an individual pack without weighing anything out.

Bear in mind: the number of boxes and the weight of each one; the multipack’s total weight doesn’t tell you how much is in an individual pack.

Resealable fruit bag

A good fit if: you want to snack from the same bag at different times.

Bear in mind: resealability doesn’t determine how much you eat; also check which type of fruit is in the bag.

Portion it out at home

A good fit if: you want to decide in advance how much to take and keep the rest at home.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to measure out the portion yourself and keep the storage and best-before information.

What to consider What should you look for? Who is this most important to?
Convenience on the go Check whether the product comes in individual boxes and how much is in each one. When I’m walking between different places, I want a snack that’s easy to carry and open. Around 36% of consumers prioritise convenience on the go.
Deciding your own portion Check the weight of each mini box or measure out an amount at home; don’t confuse this with the total weight of the bag. I want to choose in advance how much to take, without treating the whole bag as one portion. Around 29% of consumers prioritise portion control.
Ingredients and sensitivities Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact fruit variety. If I have a sensitivity or am unsure about the ingredients, I want to check the pack before buying. Around 21% of consumers prioritise ingredients.
Cost of the portions you use Compare the price per equal unit of weight and consider how much of the pack you’ll actually use. I don’t want to take more than I need and would rather avoid leaving some unused. Around 14% of consumers prioritise keeping costs down.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a small bag is one portion

    A 250 g or 375 g pack is a stock size; it doesn’t tell you how much you’ll want to take for one snack break.

    Check the contents of each mini box or measure out a portion at home.

  • Assuming all fruit varieties have the same ingredients

    Raisins, cranberry varieties and fruit and nut mixes aren’t interchangeable just because they belong to the same product category. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says dried fruit with added sugar is not included in the Wheel of Five.

    Read the ingredients for the exact variety and check allergens separately if they’re relevant to you. For pre-packed products, allergen information is shown on the label, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.

  • Assuming resealable means it’s automatically stored correctly

    A resealable pack doesn’t replace the product’s storage advice. PLUS says to store its sultana raisins in a cool, dry, dark place.

    Follow the instructions on the pack and reseal the bag after use.

    If you don’t follow the storage instructions, you could end up wasting what’s left.

Supermarket brands to use as a guide

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s dried fruit range includes different types of fruit and fruit and nut mixes.

  • The category page gives examples of more than one type of dried fruit.
  • A fruit and nut mix isn’t a product containing dried fruit alone; check the ingredients and portion packaging of the variety you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes its raisin boxes as an option for on the go and also lists Sun-dried Sultana Raisins in a 250 g pack.

  • The product information distinguishes between a larger bag and individual boxes.
  • The claim about the convenience of the boxes comes from Jumbo itself and doesn’t automatically apply to every Jumbo variety.

Lidl

Lidl’s Alesto range includes products such as dried mango strips.

  • This gives you the option to consider a different type of fruit from raisins.
  • The product range description isn’t an independent texture test and doesn’t confirm that every variety comes in individual packs.

ALDI

ALDI lists Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g pack and a fruit range with a 200 g resealable pack.

  • The product information specifies that the pack in question is resealable.
  • The product range includes different varieties, so check the ingredients of the one you choose.

PLUS

PLUS lists Sultana raisins in a 375 g stand-up bag, with raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients.

  • The product information also advises storing it in a cool, dry, dark place.
  • The larger bag isn’t a ready-to-eat portion pack, and these ingredients apply to this variety.

Dirk

Dirk lists 1 de Beste Sultana raisins in a 375 g pack.

  • The product page confirms that it’s a larger pack for anyone who wants to portion it out at home.
  • Check the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions on the pack; this isn’t a comparison of quality or price between supermarket chains.

Joybuy products for on the go

These Joybuy products are suited to choosing a fruit snack to take with you; fruit types and pack formats vary.

OHLA Dried Guava 180g

OHLA Dried Guava 180g

A good fit if you’d like to try dried guava as a snack to take with you.

The product information lists guava (95%), sugar and a preservative.

Joybuy
Bestore Hawthorn Flakes 250g with 19–21 small sachets

Bestore Hawthorn Flakes 250g (19–21 small sachets)

A good fit if you want to take the contents with you in individual small packs.

The title lists 19–21 small sachets. The product information includes hawthorn, sugar and the colour E120/carmine, and carries a warning about a possible effect on children’s activity and attention.

Joybuy
Be&Cheery Various Dried Plum 90g

Be&Cheery Various Dried Plum 90g

A good fit if you’re looking for a plum snack to take with you.

The product information lists a 90 g stand-up bag and gives plums, white sugar, salt and flavourings as ingredients.

Joybuy
Be&Cheery Rose red raisins 100g

Be&Cheery Rose red raisins 100g

A good fit if you want to take raisins with you as a ready-to-eat snack.

The title lists a 100 g pack; the product information specifies red raisins.

Joybuy
MUSHAN BASE Dried Mango 50g

MUSHAN BASE Dried Mango 50g

A good fit if you want to take dried mango with you in an individual pack.

The title lists 50 g. The ingredients information includes mango, sugar, glucose powder, malt syrup and sulphites.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How do you make one portion to take from a larger bag?

Measure out the amount you want to take at home and pack it separately. Keep the ingredients and best-before information, and follow the storage advice for your product. For PLUS Sultana raisins, the advice is to store them in a cool, dry, dark place.

Does ‘no added sugar’ mean there’s no sugar in it?

No, dried fruit also contains sugar from the fruit itself. So check both the ingredients list and the nutrition table; a claim about no added sugar doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.

What should you check if you’re sensitive to sulphites or allergic to nuts?

Read the allergen information on every pack you’re considering. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists sulphites, nuts and peanuts among the allergens; for pre-packed products, the information is shown on the label. A general description of the fruit doesn’t prove that a variety is suitable for your sensitivity.

What allergen information must a stall provide for unpackaged fruit?

According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the seller must make allergen information available before purchase. For loose, unpackaged products, this can be provided on a card or verbally, for example; if it’s given verbally, there must be a notice somewhere saying you can ask for it.

How long can you keep an opened fruit mix?

Always follow the storage advice on the pack first. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says dried tutti-frutti can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for 6–9 months after opening; this period doesn’t automatically apply to every fruit mix or to a pack exposed to festival conditions for a long time.