Households that regularly stock up on snacks
You eat dried fruit on gaming nights and at other times too. You want to compare a large bag with a multipack without focusing only on the total quantity.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Gamers who portion snacks in advance
You’d rather set out a small amount before you start playing than eat straight from a large bag. You check the ingredients and nutritional information, and want to tailor your portion to suit your day.
Occasional snackers who like variety
You don’t want to work your way through the same stock for too long, so you’re more likely to choose a smaller pack or a different type of fruit. Storage and allergen information may also influence your choice.
What should you look for when choosing?
The options below are grouped according to the main reason for choosing a pack of dried fruit for gaming snacks.
Large single bag
Suited to: regular use by several people in the household or at different times. Jumbo and Dirk list raisins in 750 g packs.
Keep in mind: you open a larger amount of stock at once, so check the storage instructions on the label.
Multipack of separate bags
Suited to: regular use when you want to keep unopened packs separate. Albert Heijn says its 4-pack contains four individual 500 g bags.
Keep in mind: that’s 2 kg of stock in total; the bags aren’t portions for a single gaming session.
Smaller pack
Suited to: occasional use or if you want to see how much you get through first. PLUS lists a 375 g stand-up pouch, while Jumbo also offers a 250 g option.
Keep in mind: a stand-up pouch isn’t necessarily resealable, so check the packaging.
A different fruit for variety
Suited to: if you’d rather mix things up than buy a large supply of raisins. Albert Heijn lists dried mango in a 130 g pack.
Keep in mind: unsweetened doesn’t tell you the total amount of sugars; the mango reviewed also carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and nuts.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and usage | Compare the net weight per bag with how much you actually use. If you’re having it delivered, check the ordering terms too. | I want enough stock for regular use, but don’t want to buy more than we’ll get through. Around 40% of consumers prioritise having the right amount in stock for regular use. |
| Portions and sugars | Check the ingredients and nutritional information separately. For the 500 g raisins reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. | I want to set out an amount before playing and distinguish between added and total sugars. Around 30% of consumers say portion control is their main consideration. |
| Storing your supply | Check the weight of each individual bag and the storage instructions on the label. Albert Heijn describes its 4-pack as four separate 500 g bags. | I want to split my stock between unopened bags and store the opened pack according to the label. Around 20% of consumers prioritise splitting their stock across separate packs. |
| Variety and allergens | Check the type of fruit, the ingredients and any allergen warnings. The Albert Heijn mango reviewed carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and nuts. | I want to try a different type of fruit and check that its ingredients suit my needs first. Around 10% of consumers say variety is their main consideration. |
Common buying mistakes
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Confusing no added sugars with a low total sugar content
These are two different figures. For the 500 g raisins reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g.
Read the ingredients and nutritional information separately, and set out a portion in advance. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day.
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Mistaking a multipack for individual snack portions
The Albert Heijn 4-pack contains four separate 500 g bags: 2 kg in total. It splits your stock across bags, but the contents aren’t small portions for a gaming session.
Check both the total weight and the contents of each individual bag. Portion it yourself if you want to set out a smaller amount.
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Assuming a stand-up pouch is resealable
The term ‘stand-up pouch’ on the PLUS pack doesn’t, by itself, confirm that it can be resealed.
Check the closure on the pack and follow the storage advice on the label.
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Checking only the type of fruit if you have an allergy
The Albert Heijn mango reviewed carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and nuts. So simply seeing mango in the ingredients list isn’t enough to assess the product-specific warning.
If you have a relevant allergy, check the warnings on the current packaging too.
Brands and product ranges for reference
Albert Heijn
The product range reviewed includes 500 g bags of raisins, a multipack of four separate bags and unsweetened organic dried mango.
- According to Albert Heijn, the 4-pack contains four separate 500 g items.
- The mango is a different type of fruit and carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and nuts; this warning doesn’t automatically apply to the raisins.
Jumbo
The sultana raisin range reviewed comes in several pack sizes, so you can compare a smaller purchase with a larger supply.
- The Jumbo range page lists 250 g, 500 g and 750 g options.
- The ingredients of the 750 g option reviewed include raisins and cottonseed oil; this doesn’t automatically apply to other products in the range.
Lidl
Belbake is the product name of the raisin option reviewed at Lidl.
- The Lidl product page confirms the product identity: Belbake Raisins.
- This reference to the product range says nothing about the quality or pack size of other Lidl snacks.
ALDI
The option reviewed is Trader Joe’s Raisins in a 500 g pack.
- ALDI’s product information lists the product brand and the weight of the Dutch version.
- Don’t assume this pack or product version is the same as overseas products with the same brand name.
PLUS
The PLUS Sultana raisins reviewed are listed in a 375 g stand-up pouch.
- PLUS lists raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients and provides storage advice.
- The term ‘stand-up pouch’ doesn’t prove that the pack is resealable; it isn’t made up of individual snack portions.
Dirk
Dirk lists raisins in a 750 g pack as an in-store option if you want a larger supply.
- The Dirk product page confirms the pack size.
- The product name doesn’t specify a brand, so don’t assume the retailer’s name is the product brand.
Joybuy products
This Joybuy selection is a mixed snack bundle containing dried fruit and nuts, not dried fruit alone.
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Nut and dried fruit mix, 5-pack, 1.073 kg
A good choice if you want to share a variety of snacks as well as dried fruit; this isn’t a dried-fruit-only bundle.
The product name lists a 5-pack with a total weight of 1.073 kg. The product information lists tree nuts, including walnuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts. The Californian prunes listed contain aspartame (E951), a source of phenylalanine.
Frequently asked questions
How much dried fruit should you set out for a gaming night?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day. Weigh out a portion in advance and take into account what you’ve already eaten that day. This is dietary advice, not a recommended pack size.
How should you store an opened bag of dried fruit?
Follow the instructions on your product’s label. The raisins reviewed say to store them in a cool, dry and dark place. For mixed dried fruit, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends storing it in a well-sealed container; don’t automatically apply this advice to other types or varieties of fruit.
Is unsweetened dried mango suitable if you have a nut allergy?
Not necessarily. The Albert Heijn mango reviewed carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and nuts. If those allergens are relevant to you, check the warning on the current packaging too; being unsweetened or organic doesn’t change that warning.
What product information should you check on pre-packed dried fruit?
Check the ingredients, net quantity, allergens and storage information. Business.gov.nl states that food information on labels in the Netherlands must be in Dutch and available online. The European Union sets out, among other things, the applicable rules for ingredients and allergen information.
What can you do if the pack you receive doesn’t meet your expectations?
Contact the seller and explain the problem. According to the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, the seller must offer a solution if a product is faulty or doesn’t meet what you were entitled to expect.