Choose dried fruit based on the specific substance you need to avoid: check the ingredients, any relevant dietary information and cross-contamination warnings. AH Raisins are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, but that doesn’t mean they’re free from nuts or sulphites. Also make sure the packaging and storage instructions suit how you plan to take your snack along on King’s Day.
You’re looking for a snack that suits your specific food allergy or gluten-related dietary requirements. So check the ingredients, any relevant dietary information and details about cross-contamination; a general free-from claim isn’t enough. The NVWA explains what allergen information must appear on prepacked products.
You want to choose dried fruit that fits within a sulphite-restricted diet. Check the preservatives and product-specific sulphite information: a vegan or gluten-free label won’t answer that question. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre generally describes sulphite sensitivity as an intolerance.
You’re looking for a practical fruit snack for King’s Day, with easy-to-manage portions and storage instructions that suit your plans. Convenience or a dietary preference alone doesn’t prove that a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
A free-from claim applies only to the specific characteristic it mentions: gluten-free or lactose-free, for example, tells you nothing about sulphites or nuts. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between sulphite intolerance and a food allergy, so assess your own dietary restriction separately.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who might find this important? |
|---|---|---|
| The relevant allergen | Check the full ingredients list and any cross-contamination warning. Take a dietary claim to apply only to the characteristic it names. | If I have a specific food allergy, I want to be able to check the ingredients and warnings. Around 36% of consumers prioritise suitability for the allergen that concerns them. |
| Spotting sulphites | Look for sulphites, sulphur dioxide or E220 in the product information. PLUS Dried Apricots and AH Soft Dried Apricots list sulphites; PLUS and Albert Heijn are the sources of these product specifications. | If I want to avoid sulphites, I check the preservatives specifically rather than relying on a general free-from claim. Around 28% of consumers prioritise avoiding sulphites. |
| Added sugar | Compare added sugars with total sugars. Per 100 g, AH Raisins list 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of total sugars; Albert Heijn is the source of this product information. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I want to be able to read that information separately from the total sugars. Around 22% of consumers prioritise avoiding added sugar. |
| Taking it along and storing it | Read the storage instructions for before and after opening. AH Dates must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C; Jumbo describes raisins in small boxes as handy for on the go. | If I want to take a snack along or share it, packaging that suits my plans is important. Around 14% of consumers prioritise portability. |
A claim about one dietary characteristic doesn’t confirm that a product is free from other allergens or that cross-contamination has been ruled out.
Read all the product information and check for the allergen you need to avoid, including any cross-contamination warnings.
A mix or coating may contain extra ingredients. The PLUS nut mix reviewed lists peanuts, nuts and sulphites; PLUS milk chocolate raisins list milk and soya.
For mixes, coatings and chocolate-covered products, check the full ingredients and warnings too.
No added sugar doesn’t mean a product contains no total sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day; this is general dietary advice, not a legal product requirement.
Read both the ingredients and nutritional information, and take the portion you plan to bring into account.
Some products have different storage instructions once opened. AH Dates must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C.
Check the packaging before deciding how to store or carry the product on King’s Day.
These brands offer useful options across their product ranges, but suitability depends on the information for the specific product variant.
Product-specific information for items including raisins, dates and apricots.
The range includes different types of dried fruit and pack sizes.
Alesto is the relevant range for dried fruit and nuts, including mango strips.
The Trader Joe’s raisins product listing specifies a 500 g pack.
Product-specific information helps you distinguish between apricots, nut mix and chocolate raisins.
The product listings include sultanas, apricots and pitted prunes.
These Joybuy products are dried fruit options to take along; both product descriptions list sugar as an ingredient. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, especially if you need to avoid a specific substance.
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The product description suggests dried guava as a snack for on the go. Sugar is listed in the ingredients, so this product isn’t suitable if you’re avoiding added sugar. Check all the information on the packaging for the allergen you need to avoid.
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The product description suggests it as a snack for on the go and mentions its resealable packaging. Sugar is listed in the ingredients, so this product isn’t suitable if you’re avoiding added sugar. Check all the information on the packaging for the allergen you need to avoid.
According to the NVWA, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products. For unpackaged products, the seller must provide this information in another way so that you can make an informed choice before buying.
Since 1 January 2026, new rules for precautionary allergen labelling have applied in the Netherlands. According to the NVWA, these warnings must be based on a risk assessment. The NVWA also says that safe stock produced before the rules came into force can still be sold, so the date doesn’t mean every pack will carry only the new warning wording.
No. Lactose intolerance affects how the body digests milk sugar, whereas a food allergy involves an immune system reaction to substances such as milk proteins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains this distinction, so if you have a milk allergy, don’t use a lactose-free claim as your only selection criterion.
Read the ingredients and look for sulphites, sulphur dioxide or E220. PLUS Dried Apricots list sulphites according to PLUS’s product specification; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre generally describes sulphite sensitivity as an intolerance.
No. No added sugar doesn’t mean there are no total sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day; this is general dietary advice, not a legal limit or personalised medical advice.
No, follow the storage instructions on the specific packaging. AH Dates must be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C; Albert Heijn gives this instruction for this product.
Keep the snack separate from food containing gluten and use a clean serving area. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains how crumbs in the kitchen can end up in gluten-free food; taking this precaution doesn’t replace checking the product information.
