Who is this guide for?

Diet-conscious snack buyers

You’re buying for colleagues who need to avoid a specific substance, and want to assess ingredients, dietary claims and warnings about possible cross-contamination separately. The European Commission explains allergen labelling; also check the information for the specific product.

People managing a shared snack area

You stock the snack tin or shared snack supplies and want to offer suitable snacks separately, in clearly identifiable portions and with clean utensils. The Food Allergy Foundation advises on working hygienically; Albert Heijn lists Hamsterchef Raisins as ten individual snack packs.

Buyers stocking up for daily fruit breaks

You’re looking for fruit to replenish regularly and are considering portions, total and added sugars, pack size and storage. Albert Heijn lists nutritional information and storage advice for the raisins reviewed.

What should you look for in dried fruit for the office?

First check which substance a colleague needs to avoid, then consider how you can offer and store the product separately. A general label such as vegan or organic is no substitute for checking the specific ingredients and warnings.

What to consider What to look for Who is this important for?
Specific dietary need Check the substance to be avoided, the full ingredients list, the relevant dietary claim and any warnings on the current packaging. If you’re buying fruit for a colleague who needs to avoid a specific substance, you’ll want to assess whether that exact variant is suitable. Around 33% of consumers prioritise suitability for a specific dietary need.
Serving separately Choose between individual packs and portioning from a larger pack; use clean hands and utensils. For anyone managing a shared snack area, the main consideration is whether portions can be offered separately and kept from coming into contact with other snacks. Around 27% of consumers prioritise serving snacks separately.
Sugars and portions Compare total and added sugars per 100 g and consider how much will actually be offered. If you want to offer a clearly defined portion, the difference between total and added sugars matters. For the AH Sun-Dried Raisins reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 59 g total sugars and 0 g added sugars per 100 g. Around 20% of consumers prioritise checking sugar and portion sizes.
Stock and storage Match the pack size to how much is used and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. If you’re replenishing supplies regularly, you’ll want to choose an amount that suits office usage and the storage space available. Around 20% of consumers prioritise stock management.

Common selection mistakes

  • Assuming vegan, organic or lactose-free means ‘allergy-free’

    These labels don’t automatically tell you whether a product is free from the specific substance a colleague needs to avoid. Lactose-free, for example, doesn’t necessarily tell you anything about milk proteins; the PLUS apricots reviewed are vegan, but PLUS says they contain sulphites.

    Check the full ingredients list, the relevant dietary claim and any precautionary warnings on the packaging.

  • Mixing a suitable product with biscuits or nuts

    A product can still come into contact with other snacks while being stocked or served, through hands, utensils or a shared snack tin.

    Offer it separately or use a dedicated clean container. The Food Allergy Foundation advises using clean hands and thoroughly cleaned crockery and cutlery.

  • Confusing no added sugar with sugar-free

    According to Albert Heijn, the AH Sun-Dried Raisins reviewed contain 59 g total sugars and 0 g added sugars per 100 g.

    Read both figures and consider how much you’re offering; a no-added-sugar label doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.

  • Assuming everyone needs unsulphured products

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies sulphite sensitivity as an exception, but doesn’t advise everyone to avoid sulphited raisins. The Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed contain sulphites.

    Assess sulphites in light of the individual’s needs and the information for the exact variant.

Brands and product ranges reviewed for reference

Albert Heijn

The product ranges reviewed include 250 g organic raisins, 500 g sun-dried raisins and Hamsterchef snack packs containing 140 g in total. Albert Heijn labels these specific raisin variants gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • Hamsterchef raisins come in ten individual 14 g snack packs; the ingredients list 97% raisins and sunflower oil.
  • The dietary claims apply to the variants reviewed and don’t establish general suitability for other allergies.

Jumbo

The variant reviewed is Dried Apricots, Pitted, 250 g. Jumbo’s product information lists ingredients and storage advice.

  • The packaging states that the apricots are pitted.
  • Jumbo lists sulphites and says the product may contain nuts, peanuts and sesame. ‘Pitted’ doesn’t mean the apricots are free from other allergens.

Lidl

The Lidl listing reviewed mentions dried fruit in blueberry and cherry varieties, in 100 g packs.

  • Lidl Netherlands lists the product format and these two varieties.
  • The listing says they’re sold in selected stores; it doesn’t confirm a specific free-from property or availability in every store.

ALDI

The ALDI Netherlands product listing reviewed is for Trader Joe’s raisins, 500 g.

  • The official product listing confirms the product name and pack size.
  • The product name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s sulphite-free or suitable for someone with a specific allergy.

PLUS

The variant reviewed is PLUS Dried Apricots in a 375 g stand-up pouch. PLUS lists ingredients, nutritional information and storage advice.

  • The ingredients list apricot and the preservative E220 (sulphite).
  • The vegan label doesn’t mean the product is free from sulphites or other substances that may be relevant to a specific dietary need.

Dirk

The Dirk search page reviewed shows, among other products, 375 g sultanas, 375 g golden raisins and 250 g Bio+ sultanas.

  • The store listing shows product names and pack sizes.
  • The product names and organic label don’t, on their own, prove that a product is free from a specific allergen.

Joybuy products for individual fruit snacks

These Joybuy products are freeze-dried jackfruit for serving as an individual fruit snack. Check the current product information against the specific dietary need; the listed ingredients aren’t a general guarantee of allergy suitability.

MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit, 150 g, six 25 g packs

MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit 150 g (6 × 25 g)

The six individual packs may be handy if you want to offer separate portions; the packaging doesn’t prove that the product is suitable for every allergy.

The product description lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says no sugar has been added. According to the product description, the contents should be consumed immediately after opening.

View at Joybuy
MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit, 25 g

MUSHAN BASE freeze-dried jackfruit 25 g

This pack may be a good option if you want to offer a small fruit snack separately; check the product information against the recipient’s dietary needs.

The product description lists jackfruit as the only ingredient and says no sugar has been added. It also suggests using it as a topping for yoghurt, cereal or desserts.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is lactose-free enough if a colleague has a milk allergy?

No. Lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar; a milk allergy concerns milk proteins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains the difference. So don’t use a lactose-free label as proof that a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy. Check the full ingredients and allergen information.

Does sulphite on the label mean everyone should avoid this product?

No, sulphites aren’t automatically a reason for everyone to avoid the product. The European Commission lists sulphur dioxide and sulphites above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/l as substances that must be included in allergen information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies sulphite sensitivity as an exception; the Jumbo and PLUS apricots reviewed contain sulphites.

Can I put suitable raisins in the same tin as biscuits and nuts?

If there’s a relevant allergy, offer them separately and prevent contact with other products. The Food Allergy Foundation advises using clean hands and thoroughly cleaned crockery and cutlery. A separate clean container or individual snack pack is a practical way to follow this advice, not a guarantee that a snack is suitable for everyone.

What information should I check on dried fruit?

Read the full ingredients list, the relevant dietary claim and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the current packaging. The European Commission explains European allergen labelling; assess a claim only in relation to the substance it covers.

What allergen information is relevant when a caterer serves snacks in the office?

Prepacked foods should have allergen information on the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that applicable providers of unpackaged food must inform customers about the relevant 14 allergens. This doesn’t automatically mean that every informal office snack tin counts as catering.