Ready to take with you
You’re looking for a small, individually wrapped snack that you can take straight to work, an appointment or a coffee break on the go. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list boxes of raisins in individual portions.
Who is this useful for?
Keeping your snack small
You want to consider the ingredients and portion size without mistaking a no-added-sugar claim for low sugar. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having no more than a handful of dried fruit.
Preparing your own portions
You eat dried fruit regularly and want to make your own coffee-break snack portions from a larger pack. Check the storage instructions: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing dried mixed fruit in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.
What should you look for when buying?
Individual boxes of raisins
A good choice if: you want to take a small snack with you without weighing it out. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 14-gram portions.
Bear in mind: the portion size is fixed, and the pack contains several individual boxes.
Portioning a larger pack yourself
A good choice if: you want to prepare several snacks at home or decide for yourself how much to take. PLUS lists a 375-gram bag; ALDI lists a 500-gram bag of raisins.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to set aside each portion yourself and store the rest according to the instructions on the pack.
A fruit or fruit-and-nut mix
A good choice if: you prefer variety to eating only raisins. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list a range of dried fruit and mixes.
Bear in mind: ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties, so check the pack you choose.
| Factor to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| A small portion to take with you | Check the number of individual packs and the weight per portion, not just the total weight. | If I’m having a coffee while out and about, I want to take something with me without weighing it first. Around 31% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Ingredients and quantity | Read the ingredients and check the sugars in the portion you’ll actually eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having no more than a handful of dried fruit. | If you’re conscious of ingredients and quantity during a coffee break, you’ll want to be able to check both on the label. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| A larger pack to keep in stock | Check the pack weight, how you can seal it and the storage advice on the pack. | If I want to get several coffee-break snacks from one purchase, I’ll need to prepare portions myself and store the rest properly. Around 19% of consumers prioritise getting more than one use from a pack. |
| A variety of fruit | Check which fruits are included and whether it’s fruit only or a fruit-and-nut mix. | If you like to switch between different fruits or mixes, you’ll want to know exactly what’s in the pack. Around 13% of consumers give variety the highest priority. |
| Allergen information | Read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warning on the exact pack. | If an allergen is relevant to me, I check the variety I’ve chosen before taking it with me. Around 12% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking no added sugar for low sugar
Dried fruit can contain naturally occurring sugars. For the boxes of raisins reviewed, Jumbo lists 9.7 grams of sugars per 14-gram portion, while the ingredients are raisins and sunflower oil.
Read both the ingredients and the nutritional information for the portion you actually eat. Don’t judge the quantity based only on a no-added-sugar claim.
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Treating a bag as one portion
A larger bag or resealable pack shows the total pack weight, not necessarily the amount for one coffee break.
Keep the total weight, number of individual boxes and the amount you snack on separate. If you’re portioning it yourself, set aside the amount you want to take with you.
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Overlooking allergen information on a fruit product
The Jumbo boxes of raisins reviewed state that they may contain, among other things, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, milk, soya and walnuts.
If you have a relevant allergy, check the ingredients and allergen warning on the exact pack, even if the product name only mentions a type of fruit.
Brands and supermarket options to consider
Albert Heijn
The range includes both boxes of raisins and other fruit and fruit-and-nut products.
- According to the product specifications, AH Hamsterchef Raisins contains 10 portions of 14 grams; the ingredients are 97% raisins and sunflower oil.
- This information applies to the variety mentioned; assess other products individually.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists individual boxes of raisins and a range of dried fruit.
- The boxes reviewed contain 14 portions of 14 grams and list raisins and sunflower oil as ingredients.
- This variety carries a warning that it may contain, among other things, nuts, milk and soya. Check the pack you buy.
Lidl
Lidl lists dried fruit and a dried fruit mix as in-store options.
- The range information includes dried fruit.
- This listing applies to selected stores; check the range and the details on the specific pack.
ALDI
The options listed include a bag of raisins and a product range with cranberry and raisin varieties.
- ALDI lists a 500-gram pack of Trader Joe’s raisins and a resealable 200-gram pack from a range of cranberry and raisin varieties.
- Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties; check the product information against the pack you choose.
PLUS
The PLUS Sultana raisins listed come in a 375-gram stand-up pouch.
- The ingredients are raisins and sunflower oil; the storage advice is to keep them in a cool, dry, dark place.
- PLUS warns that, despite checks, small sticks and stones may be present. The pack weight is not a recommended snack portion.
Dirk
The range information includes sultanas, golden raisins, cranberries, prunes and apricots, among other options.
- The fruit types and pack weights listed offer several options if you want to choose by fruit type.
- Range information alone tells you nothing about taste, suitability for a particular diet or availability at a specific store.
Joybuy products
These Joybuy dried-fruit options range from larger packs to portion yourself to smaller snacks to take with you. Check the ingredients, portion information and relevant allergens for each variety.
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Sihong grey dates with walnuts, 208 g
The combination of dates and walnuts may suit anyone looking for a fruit-and-nut snack for a coffee break; this is not an individually portioned snack.
The pack contains 208 g and lists walnuts as an allergen. Store in a cool, dry place.
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Zohra Medjool dates (M), 908 g
The larger pack is a good option if you want to make up your own portions at home rather than take an individual snack box with you.
The product description states that it contains 100% pitted dates, with no additives or preservatives. The pack contains 908 g; seal it well after opening.
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HuaWeiHeng freeze-dried fruit with cheese flavour, 28 g
The small pack is designed to take with you; the fruit filling is combined with a cheese-flavoured coating.
The product information lists strawberry and mango in the fruit filling and states that it contains milk and soya. The stated best-before date is 24 September 2026 and has passed; check the date on the specific pack before considering this product.
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Bestore dried loquat with bamboo salt, 200 g
This ready-to-eat loquat snack may suit you if you’re looking for something other than raisins; the pack is not listed as an individual portion.
The pack contains 200 g. The listed ingredients include white sugar, syrup and glucose powder; sulphites are listed as an allergen.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 14-gram box of raisins a generally recommended daily amount?
No. Fourteen grams is the stated portion weight for the Albert Heijn and Jumbo boxes of raisins reviewed, not a general nutritional guideline. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having no more than a handful of dried fruit.
How should I store dried fruit after weighing out a portion?
Follow the storage advice on the pack of your product. For the raisins listed, PLUS advises storing them in a cool, dry, dark place; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises keeping dried mixed fruit in a well-sealed container. Don’t apply this advice to another product without checking first.
What label information is important for dried fruit?
Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details on the pack of the variety you’re buying. Dutch government guidance states that food information in the Netherlands must be available in Dutch, including online; the NVWA states that pre-packed products must carry allergen information.
Are raisins with no added sugar automatically suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
No. The Jumbo boxes of raisins reviewed state that they may contain several types of nuts, milk and soya. If you have a relevant allergy, check the allergen information on the exact pack; a short ingredients list does not prove that a product is suitable for your allergy.
Does a resealable pack mean the contents are one snack portion?
No. Resealable packaging tells you that the pack can be closed again, not how much to have for one snack. Check the total weight and decide for yourself what portion to take with you.