Choose individual snack boxes if you want ready-portioned snacks for a picnic or lunchbox; choose a larger bag if you want to decide how much to give each person. Compare the number of individual packs and the weight per box, and follow the age guidance and usage instructions on the exact packaging for products aimed at children.
You want to give everyone their own snack and save any unopened packs for another lunchbox. In that case, the number of boxes and the amount in each are more useful to compare than the total bag weight alone. For example, Jumbo lists packs of 10 and 12 boxes.
You want to decide how much dried fruit everyone gets and can weigh out portions in advance. Larger bags, such as those listed by PLUS, ALDI and Dirk, are a different type of packaging from individual snack boxes.
You want clear instructions for the specific product aimed at children. For De Kleine Keuken raisins, PLUS says they are suitable from 12 months, and advises that children sit upright and are supervised. These instructions apply to that product and not automatically to other dried fruit.
Choose these when: you want to have an individual pack ready for each person.
Bear in mind: the box determines the amount provided; it is not automatically a recommended portion.
Choose this when: you want to weigh out how much fruit everyone gets or take along a snack to share.
Bear in mind: you will need to portion it yourself and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to hand out | Check the number of individual packs and the weight per box. Jumbo lists 10 pieces for the organic version and 12 boxes of around 12 g each for Trafo. | If I want to give everyone their own snack, I want to sort out the portions in advance. Around 50% of consumers prioritise pre-portioned servings. |
| Ingredients and use | Read the ingredients list and instructions for the exact product. For De Kleine Keuken raisins, PLUS says they are suitable from 12 months, and advises that children sit upright and are supervised. | If I’m taking something for young children too, I want to be able to follow the instructions on that exact pack. Around 30% of consumers prioritise ingredients or conditions of use. |
| Variety and storage | Check the type of fruit and the storage instructions. ALDI lists a 200 g resealable cranberry and raisin mix; a resealable bag is not a multipack of individual portions. | If I want to take different flavours or save leftovers, I want to know what’s in the pack and how to store it after opening. Around 20% of consumers prioritise variety. |
A 500 g bag and a 140 g pack containing 12 boxes are different types of packaging. The total weight doesn’t tell you how many individual packs you can hand out.
Check the net weight, the number of individual packs and any information about the weight per box separately.
For De Kleine Keuken raisins, PLUS says they are suitable from 12 months, and advises that children sit upright and are supervised. These instructions apply to that specific product.
Read the instructions on the exact packaging and don’t assume they apply to other fruit products.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the printed best-before date often no longer applies as a storage period once a pack has been opened.
Check the storage instructions on the packaging before you set off, and follow them for any leftovers too.
Albert Heijn lists the Hamsterchef Raisins and Hamsterchef Raisins and Apple Pieces product ranges.
Jumbo lists organic raisins for children in packs of 10 and Trafo Bio-Organic Raisins with 12 boxes in a 140 g pack.
Lidl lists Snoeprozijntjes.
ALDI lists Trader Joe's raisins in a 500 g pack and a 200 g cranberry and raisin mix in resealable packaging.
PLUS lists Sultana raisins in a 375 g pack and De Kleine Keuken organic raisins in a 140 g pack.
Dirk lists, among other products, raisins in a 750 g pack, Sultana raisins in a 375 g pack and De Kleine Keuken Bio raisins in a 140 g pack.
Joybuy picks featuring dried fruit, including snacks to take on the go and fruit with a flavour combination.
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A good choice if you’re looking for dried dates with a different flavour combination as a snack to take on the go.
The product name lists 208 g. Contains walnuts.
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A good choice if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat dried loquat snack.
The product name lists 200 g. Please note the sulphites listed.
If you want to give everyone one box, match the quantity to the number of people. Jumbo lists 10 pieces for the organic version and 12 boxes for Trafo; giving one box per person is a planning choice, not a general dietary recommendation.
No, the amount in a pack isn’t automatically a recommended portion. Jumbo lists around 12 g per box for Trafo and nutritional values per 14 g box for De Kleine Keuken raisins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives nutritional values for a 20 g handful of raisins; these amounts are based on different serving sizes.
PLUS says this product is suitable from 12 months. Make sure the child sits upright and supervise them. These instructions apply to this product and don’t mean that all dried fruit is suitable for children of that age.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you bought. PLUS says to store De Kleine Keuken raisins in a cool, dry, dark place. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that the printed best-before date often no longer applies as a storage period once a pack has been opened.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that 14 allergens must be listed in the ingredients; also check any warnings on the packaging.
