Who is this useful for?

Hosts handing out snacks and keeping some for lunchboxes

You want to know in advance how many guests will get their own portion, and keep any unopened packs aside for later. Albert Heijn’s product page lists AH Hamsterchef Raisins as 10 packs of 14 grams.

Hosts who prefer to fill their own bowls

You want to decide how much to serve yourself and perhaps keep one pack unopened. Albert Heijn lists two separate 500-gram packs in its AH 2-pack; Jumbo and ALDI also sell 500-gram packs of raisins, while PLUS lists a 375-gram bag.

Anyone catering for dietary requirements

Start by checking the ingredients of the variant you’ve chosen, rather than relying on its flavour or packaging. AH Hamsterchef’s apricot variant contains sulphites. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.

What should you look for when buying?

Packs to hand out

Choose this when: you want to set out an individual portion for each guest or keep some packs for lunchboxes. Albert Heijn lists AH Hamsterchef Raisins as 10 packs of 14 grams.

Bear in mind: each pack contains a fixed amount; this isn’t a recommendation for how much anyone should eat.

A multipack of large bags

Choose this when: you want to fill bowls yourself and keep a second pack unopened. Albert Heijn lists two separate 500-gram packs in its sun-dried raisins 2-pack.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to portion the raisins yourself and follow the label instructions after opening.

One resealable bag

Choose this when: you want to take varying small amounts. Lidl lists its dried fruit mix in a 200-gram resealable pack.

Bear in mind: the pack doesn’t contain individual portions to hand out; check the ingredients of the variant you choose.

What to consider What to check Who it matters most to
Enough portions for your guests Count the individual packs inside and compare the total with the number of portions you plan to hand out. If you want to set out a pack for every guest, you’ll want to know in advance whether you have enough individual portions. Around 31% of consumers prioritise individual portions for guests.
Keeping lunchbox supplies separate Count the packs you’re saving for later separately. For large bags, make a note of how much you want to keep unopened. If you want to have some unopened portions left after the get-together, set them aside in advance. Around 25% of consumers prioritise keeping some back for lunchboxes.
Matching the amount to your plan Compare the net weight with the number of portions you want; large bags need to be portioned by you. If you don’t want to buy more than your serving plan calls for, check the quantity per pack and the number of guests. Around 19% of consumers prioritise choosing the right amount.
Suitable for your guests Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the pack for the variant you’ve chosen. If a guest has a dietary restriction, check each variant individually. Around 13% of consumers make suitability their first selection criterion.
Storing opened packs Check whether the bag is resealable and follow the storage and use-by instructions on the label. If you want to keep small amounts after filling your bowls, think about how you’ll store the opened pack. Around 12% of consumers prioritise this.

Common pitfalls

  • Mistaking a multipack for individual snack packs

    Albert Heijn’s sun-dried raisins 2-pack contains two separate 500-gram packs, not individual snack portions.

    Check both the number of packs inside and the weight of each pack before turning your guest list into a shopping list.

    With large bags, you’ll need to portion the contents yourself. Set out bowls if you don’t want to serve straight from the pack.

  • Assuming every fruit mix is suitable for every guest

    AH Hamsterchef Raisins and Apricot Pieces contains sulphur dioxide (E220, sulphites). A similar flavour or pack design doesn’t mean the ingredients are the same.

    Check the ingredients list, allergens and any cross-contamination warnings for each variant. The NVWA explains that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.

  • Treating the pack size as a recommended portion

    A large pack or a set number of snack packs doesn’t determine how much dried fruit someone should eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 grams of dried fruit per day.

    Serve it mindfully and offer dried fruit as a small part of your snacks.

  • Assuming a stand-up pouch is resealable

    PLUS lists a stand-up pouch and storage advice, but this doesn’t confirm that the pack can be resealed. Lidl explicitly describes its checked fruit mix as being in a resealable pack.

    Check the pack’s seal and follow the storage advice for that product after opening.

    If the pack doesn’t close securely, a separate airtight storage container may be useful.

Brands and shopping options for reference

Albert Heijn

A useful option for both individual snack packs and multipacks of large bags.

  • Albert Heijn lists AH Hamsterchef Raisins as 10 packs of 14 grams, and its AH Sun-Dried Raisins 2-pack as two separate 500-gram packs.
  • AH Hamsterchef’s apricot variant contains sulphites; don’t assume it’s suitable based on the standard raisin variant.

Jumbo

An option for portioning the contents of a large bag yourself.

  • Jumbo’s product page lists 500 grams for Sun-Dried Sultana Raisins.
  • The nutritional information per 15 grams doesn’t mean the bag contains individual 15-gram portions.

Lidl

A resealable pack for anyone who wants to take small amounts as needed.

  • Lidl lists its dried fruit mix as 200 grams per pack and describes the pack as resealable.
  • The variants listed are cranberries and a cranberry and raisin mix; check the ingredients of the variant you choose.

ALDI

A larger bag of raisins to portion yourself.

  • The Dutch ALDI product page lists Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500-gram pack.
  • Any quality descriptions in the retailer’s listing are claims made by the retailer, not the result of independent taste or quality testing.

PLUS

A bag of sultana raisins for anyone who wants to portion them personally.

  • PLUS lists a 375-gram pack and recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place.
  • A stand-up pouch isn’t automatically resealable. PLUS also warns that the product may contain stalks and stones despite checks.

Dirk

A retailer option for portioning raisins from a bag yourself.

  • Dirk’s product listing names 1 de Beste Sultana Raisins in a 375-gram pack.
  • Quality statements made by Dirk are retailer claims, not an independent comparison with other supermarket chains.

Joybuy products for dried fruit snacks

These product picks work well for dried fruit snacks; packaging and ingredients vary by product.

Sihong Grey Dates with Walnuts, 208 g

Sihong Grey Dates with Walnuts, 208 g

A snack pack of dates and walnut kernels for a sharing platter.

Contents: 208 g. Contains walnuts; bear this in mind if any of your guests need to avoid them.

View at Joybuy
Zohra Medjool Dates, size M, 908 g

Zohra Medjool Dates (M), 908 g

The product description suggests sharing; you’ll need to portion the contents yourself.

Contents: 908 g. The dates are described as pitted.

View at Joybuy
Bestore Dried Loquat with Bamboo Salt, 200 g

Bestore Dried Loquat with Bamboo Salt, 200 g

A ready-to-eat dried fruit option for a sharing platter.

Contents: 200 g. The listed ingredients include loquat fruit, sugar, syrup, glucose powder and sulphites.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How many multipacks do you need if you also want to keep some portions for lunchboxes?

Add together the number of snack packs you want to hand out and the number you want to keep for lunchboxes. Divide the total by the number of packs in each multipack, then round up. Albert Heijn lists 10 packs of AH Hamsterchef Raisins; set aside the lunchbox supply before your get-together. This is a way to calculate how many packs to buy, not a recommendation to give every guest several portions.

How much dried fruit does the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommend?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 grams of dried fruit per day. This is dietary advice, not a legal limit on what you can buy; remember to include any dried fruit already eaten that day.

Can you offer raisins to young children who are eating with the family?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says raisins can occasionally be offered as a snack once a child is eating regular meals with the family, at around their first birthday. Make sure the child can chew well, stay with them and have them eat calmly while sitting down. This guidance is for young children eating with the family and isn’t a general age limit for all guests.

Should opened dried fruit be kept in the fridge?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging for the specific product. PLUS recommends storing its sultana raisins in a cool, dry, dark place. For dried mixed fruit, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping it tightly sealed in a cool, dry, dark place; this product-specific advice doesn’t automatically apply to all dried fruit.

What allergen information should be on the packaging?

According to the NVWA, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods, and the relevant allergens must be clearly indicated in the ingredients list. Sulphites are one of the 14 regulated allergens. This labelling requirement doesn’t mean a product is allergen-free; check the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen.