First decide how much dried fruit you want to eat, then weigh out that portion. Next, compare the nutritional information on the exact pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day, but a small portion does not automatically make a product low in calories: that claim has a limit per 100 grams. Schiphol confirms that there is an Albert Heijn supermarket, but this does not guarantee that a particular pack will be available there.
You want to eat dried fruit on the go without treating the whole pack as one snack. First decide how much to take and eat, then check the energy information for the exact product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day.
You want to know where to shop at Schiphol, without mistaking a nationwide product page for a guarantee that the item is stocked at the airport. Schiphol confirms that there is an Albert Heijn supermarket.
If you have a relevant food sensitivity, the label on the exact pack matters more than its calorie content or convenience. The NVWA lists sulphites as an allergen, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Choose this option if: you want plums and would like to compare the energy content of a weighed portion.
Worth noting: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s calorie calculator gives a general figure of 40 kcal per 20-gram portion; this is not a measurement for a specific pack.
Choose this option if: you prefer apricots and can weigh out the portion yourself.
Worth noting: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a general figure of 26 kcal per 9-gram apricot. That works out at around 58 kcal per 20 grams; this calculation uses rounded figures and does not compare specific products.
| Shopping consideration | What to check | Who is it most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in a portion | Weigh your portion and compare the same quantity; calculate kcal per portion using kcal per 100 grams × portion weight / 100. | If I want to limit the calories in my snack, I look at the portion I actually eat. Around 40% of consumers put calories per portion first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack; sulphites are on the NVWA’s allergen list. | If I have a relevant sensitivity, I want to know exactly what is in my snack. Around 20% of consumers check ingredients or allergens first. |
| Shopping before departure | Decide whether to shop beforehand or at Schiphol; a store listing does not confirm that a particular pack is in stock. | If I want to buy something just before departure, a confirmed store matters more to me than a nationwide product listing. Around 20% of consumers prioritise convenience when shopping. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the net weight and follow the storage advice for your chosen product after opening. | If I have fruit left over after my trip, I want to know how much is in the pack and how to store the rest. Around 20% of consumers prioritise pack size and using up leftovers. |
A 20-gram portion is the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s recommendation for dried fruit per day, not a legal packaging requirement. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 grams for the ‘low energy’ claim. So the calorie count for a small portion is not the same as meeting that claim threshold.
A snack portion with few calories does not prove that the product meets the per-100-gram threshold for the ‘low energy’ claim.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 grams and the amount you actually eat. Only use the claim if the exact product information meets the applicable threshold.
The 250- and 375-gram packs reviewed are larger packs, not small snack portions.
Weigh out how much you want to take before you set off, and follow the storage advice for your chosen product after opening.
A confirmed store at Schiphol and a nationwide product listing do not tell you the same thing.
Plan where to buy separately from what product to choose. Schiphol confirms that there is an Albert Heijn supermarket, but not that a particular pack is available.
Schiphol’s hand luggage security rules and the food regulations in your destination country are two different things.
Check your destination’s official rules if you want to take any leftover dried fruit with you after you arrive.
Worth considering if you want to browse the Dutch own-brand range before your trip; the product reviewed is AH Organic Pitted Dried Plums.
Worth considering if you want to compare Jumbo Pitted Dried Apricots before your trip.
Worth considering for Alesto, the brand range that includes dried fruit and nuts.
Worth considering if you want to browse Trader Joe's Sun-Dried Apricots before your trip.
Worth considering if you want to compare PLUS Dried Apricots in a stand-up pouch before your trip.
Worth considering for the own brand 1 de Beste; the product reviewed is 1 de Beste Apricots.
These products are options to take as a snack; weigh out your portion and check the information on the exact pack.
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An option if you want to take raisins with you and weigh out your snack portion beforehand.
The product name lists a 500 g pack.
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An option if you want to take prunes with you; weigh out the amount you want to eat as a snack.
The product name lists a 65 g pack.
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An option if you want to take dried apricots with you and weigh out your own snack portion.
The product name lists a 250 g pack.
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An option if you want to take red dried apricots with you; decide how much to pack for your journey.
The product name lists a 300 g pack.
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An option if you want to take dried strawberries with you and weigh out the amount yourself.
The product name lists a 50 g pack.
No. The calorie count for a small portion is not the same as the ‘low energy’ claim. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 grams for this claim.
Weigh out your portion and check the energy information on the exact pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day; this is nutritional advice, not a legal packaging requirement.
Schiphol confirms that there is an Albert Heijn supermarket and lists two to-go locations on Plaza. This confirms the stores, not the availability of a particular pack.
Schiphol says that, in principle, you can take anything with you except items on the list of dangerous or prohibited items. This hand luggage rule does not mean you can import food into every destination country.
Check the latest information on the pack before eating the product. Albert Heijn and PLUS recommend checking the packaging because product information can change; for your product, use the ingredients, allergen and nutritional information shown there.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The NVWA states that allergen information for pre-packed products must appear on the label, and lists sulphites as a regulated allergen.
