Choose a large bag if you want to prepare portions for several school days; choose individual boxes if having separate portions matters more. Compare the contents and ingredients of the specific pack, and when buying in bulk, look at the price per kilo as well as how much you’ll actually use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends dried fruit with no added sugar for school lunches, with a maximum of one handful a day. A larger pack doesn’t change that advice.
You regularly put together school lunches and compare bulk packs by net weight, price per kilo and how to store them after opening. ALDI lists raisins in a 500 g bag, while Dirk offers, among other options, a 750 g pack.
You want to pack a portion without weighing it out of a large bag each time. As well as the number of boxes, compare the total net weight and the contents of each box; Jumbo lists a product containing 14 boxes.
You check the ingredients and want to choose dried fruit with no added sugar in line with the school lunch guidance mentioned here. If an allergy or intolerance is relevant, check the information on the specific pack too; the NVWA points out that pre-packed products must show allergen information on the label.
First decide whether you want to portion it yourself or would rather take individual boxes with you. Then compare the ingredients and choose an amount that suits your lunch plans.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should give this more weight? |
|---|---|---|
| Value of a bulk bag | Compare the net weight and price per kilo, and choose an amount you’ll actually use. | If I’m buying enough for several school days, I want to compare the price per kilo with the net weight. Around 29% of consumers make value for money in bulk their top buying priority. |
| Ingredients and portion size | Read the ingredients and decide on a small portion; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s school lunch list recommends a maximum of one handful of dried fruit with no added sugar per day. | I want to be able to check the ingredients and keep the amount I pack small. Around 29% of consumers prioritise ingredients and portion size. |
| Individual portions | Check the number of boxes, the total net weight and the amount in each box. | I want to pack portions without weighing them out of a large bag every morning. Around 18% of consumers name convenient packaging as their top buying priority. |
| Variety | Check whether it’s one type of fruit or a mix, and read all the ingredients if it’s a mix. | I want to be able to alternate between different types of dried fruit and know what each variety contains. Around 12% of consumers put variety first. |
| Individual ingredient requirements | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack; don’t assume a product is suitable based on the type of fruit or the shop’s name. | If an allergy or sensitivity to sulphites is relevant, I want to check the ingredients of that exact pack. Around 12% of consumers name an individual ingredient requirement as their top buying priority. |
You can’t compare a 500 g bag with a 750 g bag simply by looking at the price on the shelf.
Compare the current price per kilo, then choose an amount your household will actually use.
Some mixes also contain nuts or other ingredients. For example, Albert Heijn’s range includes a fruit and nut mix.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific mix, especially if an allergy is relevant.
A large pack doesn’t automatically mean the portion is right for a school lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of one handful of dried fruit with no added sugar per day.
Portion it out yourself, taking into account any other dried fruit your child eats that day.
The range includes raisins and various dried fruit products.
Product listings include bulk packs and raisins in individual boxes.
Lidl Netherlands lists dried fruit and a dried fruit mix.
ALDI Netherlands lists Trader Joe's raisins in a bulk pack.
PLUS lists, among other products, Smaakt Blue Thompson organic raisins.
Dirk lists raisins in various pack sizes.
These product options suit individual lunch portions or a selection of different dried fruits; check the ingredients and storage advice on each pack.
No image available
An option if you want to pack raisins in individual lunch portions rather than portioning them out of a large bag yourself.
The product name states 140 g and 12M+. The product information advises supervision while eating and says the product isn’t suitable for children with swallowing difficulties.
No image available
A selection for trying different dried fruit products; this pack doesn’t contain fruit alone.
The product name states that it contains five products, totalling 1.073 kg. The product information mentions nuts and products with added sugar; the prunes listed also contain aspartame (E951), a source of phenylalanine. After opening, the product information advises keeping it chilled and consuming it within one day.
For school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of one handful of dried fruit with no added sugar per day. This is dietary advice, not a legal limit; keep the portion small and count any other dried fruit your child eats that day.
For bulk bags, compare the current price per kilo and net weight with the amount you use. For individual boxes, also check the total net weight and the contents of each box: the number of boxes alone isn’t enough to compare the cost per portion.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a general storage time of 6–9 months in a kitchen cupboard for opened raisins. Follow the label on the specific pack too; Jumbo advises keeping its organic sultanas in a cool, dry, dark place.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. The NVWA says that pre-packed products must show allergen information on the label; a fruit mix may also contain nuts. Don’t assume a product is suitable for a child based on the type of fruit or the shop’s name.
No, don’t assume that’s the case. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that children can choke on raisins or currants, and advises not giving them too many at once and staying with them while they eat. Consider your child’s eating skills and the level of supervision at school.
