Choose dried fruit based on the specific ingredients you or your guests need to avoid, rather than relying on a general ‘free from’ label. Gluten-free, lactose-free and no added sugar do not mean the same thing, and none of these claims proves that a product is suitable for all allergies. So check the full ingredients list, any relevant dietary claims and allergen warnings on the current packaging.
You’re buying for someone who needs to avoid a specific allergen or follows a gluten-free diet. You need product-specific ingredients, dietary claims and warnings; a general promise that something is allergen-free isn’t enough.
You want to know whether the sulphite information is relevant to your dietary restriction. Dried apricots need extra checking: the supermarket products reviewed list sulphites.
You’re looking for a fruit snack to share, while keeping an eye on added sugar, total sugars, portions and leftovers. No added sugar doesn’t mean sugar-free.
First, work out which ingredients someone needs to avoid. Then compare sugar and portion sizes, and choose a pack that suits the number of people.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and dietary claims | Read the ingredients and any separate warnings. Check that a gluten-free or lactose-free claim matches the dietary restriction. | If you’re buying for someone with a specific allergy or dietary restriction, check every relevant statement. Around 36% of consumers put a specific need to avoid certain ingredients first. |
| Sulphites | Look for sulphur dioxide, sulphites and preservatives E220–E228; don’t rely on a gluten-free claim alone. | If you need to avoid sulphites, make sure the product information actually covers that restriction. Around 29% of consumers put avoiding sulphites first when buying. |
| Sugars and portions | Check both added sugar and sugars per 100 g, and decide in advance how much you’ll serve. | If you want to avoid added sugar or measure out a portion, check the total sugars too. Around 21% of consumers prioritise sugar and portion size. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the net weight and follow the storage instructions and use-by or best-before information on the packaging. | For a film night with a particular group, you’ll want to buy an appropriate amount and store any leftovers properly. Around 14% of consumers start by considering quantity and ease of storage. |
A dietary claim applies to the property stated; it doesn’t automatically cover other allergens. For example, AH Soaked Dried Apricots are labelled gluten-free and also list sulphites.
First, establish which substances need to be avoided. Then check the exact product’s ingredients and warnings.
The product name doesn’t tell you about all added ingredients or possible cross-contamination warnings. Jumbo Dried Apricots Without Stones list sulphites and, according to the product information, may contain nuts, peanuts and sesame.
Read the full ingredients list and allergen warnings on the packaging.
Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Raisins. These figures describe different things.
Check both the ingredients and the nutritional information, and spoon a portion into a bowl in advance rather than treating the whole bag as one serving.
The product page for AH Soaked Dried Apricots warns that a stone may accidentally remain in the product.
Read the usage warnings too, particularly if a remaining stone could pose a risk to someone at the table.
The products reviewed are AH Raisins 250 g and AH Soaked Dried Apricots 250 g.
Jumbo Dried Apricots Without Stones 250 g is a specific example where allergen information matters.
Alesto includes dried fruit and nuts, including apricots.
The Dutch ALDI page reviewed lists Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g pack.
The examples reviewed are PLUS Sultana Raisins 375 g and PLUS Dried Apricots 375 g.
The Dirk search page reviewed shows a range of products under the 1 de Beste label, including sultanas, golden raisins, cranberries, pitted prunes and apricots.
These Joybuy products are freeze-dried jackfruit and raisin snacks. Check the ingredients information and warnings for each product to see whether it’s suitable for your specific list of ingredients to avoid.
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The six individual pouches are designed to be shared as a snack.
The pack contains 150 g in six 25 g pouches. The product information lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says there is no added sugar.
The statement ‘Contains: None’ isn’t an independent test or a general guarantee that the product suits every individual list of ingredients to avoid.
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The 25 g pack is a handy single-serve option if you want to take a small amount with you or serve it.
The product information lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says there is no added sugar.
The statement ‘Allergens: None’ isn’t an independent test or a general guarantee that the product suits every individual list of ingredients to avoid.
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The product information describes this as a raisin snack and includes storage advice for after opening.
The product information lists 99.5% raisins and sunflower oil.
The product description states that it doesn’t contain any of the 14 major EU allergens. This isn’t a general guarantee for every individual allergy, so check the current packaging.
No. For example, AH Soaked Dried Apricots are labelled gluten-free and also list sulphites. Assess each dietary restriction separately by checking the full ingredients list and warnings.
According to the NVWA, mandatory allergen information covers 14 specified allergens. Allergens present as ingredients must be listed in the ingredients list. This requirement doesn’t mean that a product is suitable for every possible allergy.
According to the NVWA, Dutch rules for warnings about accidental allergens have applied since 1 January 2026. The permitted wording is ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. Consider the warning in relation to the specific allergy.
Yes. Stichting Voedselallergie advises reading the full ingredients list again for every product and every purchase. Check the warnings too, especially if the packaging or recipe has changed.
No. Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Raisins. So pay attention to the amount you serve as well. The Voedingscentrum recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day; this is dietary advice, not an allergen safety limit.
