For party bags, you can portion out ordinary raisins from a larger pack yourself; the checked product pages from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 0.5 to 0.8 g of fat per 100 g. ‘Low fat’ refers to the absolute amount of fat, while ‘reduced fat’ involves a comparison and does not automatically mean the same thing. Also consider portion size and how easy the fruit is to hand out. For young children, make sure they eat calmly and are supervised.
You want to compare the stated fat content and avoid confusing ‘low fat’ with low calorie or with a substantiated comparative claim. For ‘low fat’ claims on solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g.
You’re looking for small, practical treats and weighing up ready-packed boxes against portioning them out yourself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treats; a serving size shown on a product page is not automatically a recommendation for children.
You want to check the ingredients and allergen information, and take the children’s ages and eating abilities into account. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what allergen information food businesses must provide for prepacked products.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content and claims | Compare the fat content per 100 g. For ‘low fat’ claims on solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g per 100 g. Treat ‘reduced fat’ as a separate comparative claim. | I want a demonstrably low fat content for the party bags and don’t want to confuse ‘reduced fat’ with ‘low fat’. Fat content is the deciding factor for around 31% of consumers. |
| Portion size and sugars | Check the sugars and energy per 100 g, as well as how much will actually go into each bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions of dried fruit for children. | If I want to hand out small portions, I look at the sugars and energy in the amount being given. Portion size and sugar come first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ease of handing out | Count the individual packs and compare this with the number of treats you need. If you portion them out yourself, you’ll need to prepare the portions. | I want to prepare enough bags without doing a lot of portioning myself, so the number of individual packs matters. Ease of handing out comes first for around 23% of consumers. |
| Dietary requirements and eating | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current label. For young children, check any dietary requirements and make sure they eat calmly while seated and are supervised. | For children with dietary requirements or young children, I want to check the ingredients, allergens and how the food should be eaten beforehand. Suitability matters most to around 15% of consumers. |
Fat and energy are separate nutritional values. A low fat content alone doesn’t tell you how much energy or sugar a product contains.
Compare the energy and sugars per 100 g as well as the fat, and consider the portion you’ll be handing out.
The serving size shown on a product page isn’t automatically suitable for a children’s party treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treats.
Let the amount per child guide you, rather than relying only on the serving size shown on the packaging or product page.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, dried fruit with added sugar and fried fruit are not included in the Wheel of Five.
Check the ingredients and how the exact product has been processed before choosing it.
When you make up individual portions, the original label won’t necessarily be visible to the person receiving the treat.
Keep the original packaging and check any dietary requirements in advance.
Portioning it yourself takes extra time and packaging materials.
AH Raisins 250 g is an option for making up your own party portions.
Jumbo Sun-Dried Sultana Raisins 500 g is a larger pack you can portion out yourself.
Lidl lists dried fruit as part of its range.
Trader Joe’s Raisins 500 g is listed as a larger pack.
PLUS Sultana Raisins 375 g is an own-brand option for making up your own portions.
Dirk shows larger packs of raisins and other dried fruit in its search results.
No. ‘Low fat’ refers to the absolute amount of fat; for solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g. ‘Reduced fat’ is a comparative claim and requires an appropriate comparison with similar products.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says raisins can be introduced at around a child’s first birthday, when they start eating ordinary meals with the family. Don’t give young children too many raisins at once. Make sure they eat calmly while seated and stay with them because of the risk of choking.
The checked AH, Jumbo and PLUS products recommend storing them in a cool, dry, dark place. If you portion them out yourself, keep the original packaging available for the best-before date and product information.
Read the allergen information on the label of the prepacked product you buy. The NVWA explains the information requirements for food businesses; for party treats, also ask about dietary requirements in advance.
Not automatically. AH Raisins and PLUS Sultana Raisins are listed as having no added sugar, while their nutritional tables still show total sugars. So compare the nutritional information for the exact product.
