Start by choosing dried fruit based on the ingredient you need to avoid: a gluten-free or lactose-free claim answers a different question from warnings about peanuts, nuts or sulphites. Check both the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact product variant; no added sugar does not mean the product is low in total sugars. Set out a measured portion before your gaming session and follow the storage instructions.
If peanuts, nuts or other allergens affect your choice, check both the ingredients and any warning about possible cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains what allergen information must appear on pre-packed products.
If you’re looking for a specific gluten-free or lactose-free claim, check it applies to the exact product variant and assess other allergens separately. Lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy are not the same thing, as HagaZiekenhuis also explains.
If you want to avoid added sugars, also check the total sugars per 100 g and the portion you set out. Product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS makes it clear that these are different figures.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Check the ingredients and warning on the exact packaging separately. | If an allergen affects my choice, I also want to know whether possible cross-contamination is mentioned. Around 31% of consumers put allergens and cross-contamination first. |
| Gluten-free or lactose-free claims | Check which specific free-from claim appears on the product variant and assess other allergens separately. | If I need to avoid gluten or lactose, I look for a claim that matches my specific restriction. Around 25% of consumers give this specific claim the highest priority. |
| Sulphites | Check the ingredients and allergen information for sulphites, sulphur dioxide or E220. | If sulphites are an ingredient I need to avoid, I check for them separately from claims such as vegan or no added sugar. Around 19% of consumers put avoiding sulphites first. |
| Added and total sugars | Compare the information on added sugars with the total sugars per 100 g and in your portion. | If I’m looking for no added sugar, I also want to know how much total sugar the fruit contains. Around 13% of consumers choose this as their top purchasing priority. |
| Portioning and storage | Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions and use-by guidance after opening. | For a gaming session, I want to be able to set out a portion easily and store the rest properly. Around 12% of consumers give portioning and storage the highest priority. |
Jumbo Dried Mango lists dried mango as an ingredient, but its product information also warns that it may contain peanuts and nuts.
Check the ingredients and allergen information as two separate steps on the packaging of the product variant you’re buying.
The PLUS Dried Apricots product reviewed contains no added sugars, but it does contain E220 and lists sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
If you need to avoid sulphites, check the ingredients and specific allergen information; don’t rely on a vegan or sugar claim.
The product information for AH Organic Dried & Unsweetened Mango lists 0 g of added sugars and 61 g of total sugars per 100 g.
Check the nutrition table and weigh out the portion you set aside for your gaming session.
The pack and the portion you set out are not the same thing. The AH mango product reviewed also has storage instructions and a limited shelf life once opened.
Set out a portion in advance, seal the rest as directed on the packaging and follow the storage and shelf-life instructions.
If you don’t store an opened pack as instructed, the product may go to waste.
The AH Organic Mango and Blue Thompson Raisins products reviewed are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free in the product information from Albert Heijn.
Jumbo Dried Mango 125 g lists dried mango as an ingredient.
Lidl sells dried mango strips and other dried fruit under its Alesto brand.
ALDI Netherlands lists Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g pack.
PLUS Dried Apricots 375 g lists ingredients, nutritional values and storage instructions.
Dirk’s dried fruit and nuts category includes dates, dried figs, apricots and prunes.
These product selections are dried fruit for snack breaks, with portion sizes and product claims in mind. Always check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact product variant.
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The product description lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says the pack contains six 25 g sachets, so you can keep portions separate.
According to the product description, the product contains no added sugar; the stated total sugars are 65 g per 100 g. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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The product description presents guava as a dried fruit snack; the ingredients list also includes sugar and a preservative.
According to the product description, the product contains none of the 14 main EU allergens. This is not an assessment of every individual allergy: check the packaging and any relevant warnings.
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The product description lists raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients and gives the pack size as 252 g.
According to the product description, the product contains none of the 14 main EU allergens. Check the information on the packaging against your own dietary restriction.
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The product description mentions 14 g boxes and says no sugars have been added.
According to the product description, this product contains no sulphites. The information states that it is suitable only for children over 12 months old, and not for children with swallowing difficulties; supervise children while they eat. Check the packaging for the latest information.
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The product name and description identify dried plums as a snack.
The ingredients list includes sugar, salt and flavourings. According to the product description, no allergens are listed; check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the variant you receive.
It is a warning about possible cross-contamination, not the same as an ingredient. The NVWA states that, since 1 January 2026, businesses must support warnings with a risk assessment. According to the NVWA, the production date matters for existing packaging, so don’t ignore a warning just because its wording looks out of date.
No. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while a cow’s milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. A lactose-free claim therefore does not replace checking for milk and relevant allergen warnings, as HagaZiekenhuis explains.
Weigh out a portion rather than treating the whole pack as one serving. The World Cancer Research Fund advises eating no more than 20 g of dried fruit a day because its sugars are concentrated; this is dietary advice, not a legal limit or specific gaming recommendation.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the mango product reviewed, Albert Heijn advises storing it in a cool, dark and dry place and notes that it has a limited shelf life once opened; for the raisins reviewed, you should seal the pack properly after use.
Dutch government guidance lists ingredients, allergens, net weight and nutritional values as label information that must also be available online. Use the information for the specific product variant and don’t rely only on a search filter or general category description.
