Choose dried fruit for a birthday party according to what each guest needs to avoid, and check both the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging. Choosing a single type of fruit makes it easier to assess, but does not rule out cross-contamination. For young children, small portions and supervision are also important, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
You want to check the ingredients and warnings for each guest, without treating a type of fruit or a ‘free from’ claim as a guarantee of safety for everyone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains the allergen information that must appear on the labels of prepacked products.
You’re specifically looking for sulphites and preservatives, which means checking for something beyond just nuts or milk. The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation describes sulphites as preservatives, including E220–E228.
You want to prepare suitable portions and take young children’s eating abilities into account. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that children can choke on raisins and currants.
Start with the ingredient a guest needs to avoid, then check the specific warnings and consider how you’ll prepare and serve the snacks.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding the relevant allergen | Ingredients and relevant allergen warnings on the exact product packaging. | When choosing snacks for guests with different allergies, I want to check that the ingredients and warnings are suitable for each person. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding the specific allergen. |
| Identifying sulphites | Look for sulphites or sulphur dioxide and preservatives E220–E228. | If a guest needs to avoid sulphites, I check specifically for them rather than relying on the name of the fruit. Around 29% of consumers prioritise avoiding sulphites. |
| Portions and serving | Keep portions small; supervise young children and, when serving gluten-free food, avoid contact with crumbs. | When preparing portions for young children, I want to consider the amount and supervision. For gluten-free food, I also take care to prepare it separately. Around 21% of consumers give portions and serving the highest priority. |
| Dietary claims and sugars | Check which specific dietary claim applies and compare total sugars with added sugars. | When catering for a specific dietary requirement, I want to understand exactly what a claim means rather than assume it replaces all other checks. Around 14% of consumers start with another dietary requirement or sugar information. |
This category can include products with different ingredients and allergen warnings. A fruit and nut mix, for example, is not the same as a single type of fruit.
Identify the ingredient each guest needs to avoid, then check the exact product packaging.
Dried fruit can still be high in total sugars even without added sugar. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions for children.
Read the nutrition information and plan a small portion rather than topping up freely.
Gluten-containing crumbs can come into contact with a product that is gluten-free in itself during preparation. The Dutch Coeliac Society describes this risk in the kitchen.
Prepare gluten-free snacks separately and keep them away from crumbs when serving.
Preparing and serving food separately takes extra planning.
The range includes both individual dried fruits and fruit and nut mixes.
You can check the ingredients and allergens in the product information for specific varieties.
Lidl Netherlands lists dried fruit products and a fruit mix.
ALDI Netherlands lists Trader Joe's raisins in a 500 g pack.
The product page for PLUS Sultana raisins 375 g lists ingredients and specific dietary features.
Dirk’s search results show a range of dried fruit, including raisins and pitted prunes.
These are individual dried fruit products to assess for each guest based on their ingredients and product information; a product listing is not a general ‘free from’ guarantee.
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An individual fruit to consider when comparing ingredients for each guest; check the current packaging against your guests’ needs.
The product information lists jackfruit (100%) and ‘None’ under allergens; this is not a general guarantee for every guest.
The pack contains six 25 g bags.
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A small pack to assess as an individual fruit; compare the product information with each guest’s specific dietary needs.
The product information lists jackfruit (100%) and ‘None’ under allergens; check the packaging and don’t treat this as a general guarantee.
Pack size: 25 g.
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A jackfruit product to include when comparing ingredients for guests with dietary requirements; check the full information on the packaging.
The product information lists 98% jackfruit and vegetable oil, and includes a statement about the 14 main EU allergens.
The pack described contains 100 g.
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A larger pack to consider when planning for a party; assess the product information against what your guests need to avoid.
The product description states that no additives or preservatives are used and mentions a statement about the 14 main EU allergens.
Pack size: 908 g.
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An individual fruit to compare when checking ingredients for guests; also look at the other ingredients listed on the packaging.
The product information lists 95% guava, sugar and a preservative, and includes a statement about the 14 main EU allergens.
Pack size: 180 g.
No. Lactose-free and suitable for someone with a milk allergy are not the same thing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between allergy and intolerance. If someone has a milk allergy, check the relevant ingredients and warnings, not just the lactose-free claim.
Prepare them separately and avoid contact with crumbs containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that crumbs can contaminate a product that was gluten-free; keep the packaging with the snacks so you can refer to the product information.
For young children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends supervision and advises against giving them too many raisins or currants at once because of the risk of choking. The right approach depends on the child; if needed, discuss it with their parent or carer.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the variety you choose. For the PLUS Sultana raisins reviewed, PLUS recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place. This does not establish a general storage period after opening for all dried fruit.
According to the NVWA, allergen information for prepacked food must appear on the label. From 1 January 2026, the NVWA also oversees the Dutch policy on warnings about possible cross-contamination. This information relates to the food businesses concerned, not to a separate labelling obligation for people organising private events.
The wording alone does not determine how an older label should be assessed. According to the NVWA FAQ, the production date matters; stock packed earlier may be sold after 1 January 2026 if the food is not unsafe. The transition period for new production has now ended.
