Who is a large pack suitable for?

Families who portion it themselves

You want to divide a large bag into small portions for your toddler and perhaps other family members. The pack weight doesn’t tell you how much your child will get at a time.

Parents who want snack time to be calm

You want to know how to serve dried fruit: make sure your child is sitting calmly, cut the pieces smaller if needed and stay close by. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this to reduce the risk of choking.

Households that don’t use much dried fruit

You mainly serve dried fruit for variety and want to choose a pack that suits how you use it at home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fresh fruit as the better choice.

What should you look for in a large pack?

First decide how you want to serve the fruit and what information you need. Then choose an amount that suits how your whole household uses it.

What to consider What should you look for? Who should pay particular attention?
Serving it calmly and appropriately Cut any pieces that are too large into smaller ones; make sure your child is sitting calmly and stay close by. When I give my toddler a snack, I particularly want to consider the size of the pieces and make sure they eat calmly. Around 29% of consumers put safe serving first.
Amount for the household Choose a net weight that suits what the whole household actually uses. I don’t want to stock up on more than we use. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a pack that suits their household’s needs.
Ingredients and portion size Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and keep the portion small. If my child has a known allergy, I want to be able to check the product information while still serving a small portion. Around 24% of consumers focus particularly on ingredients and portion size.
Stocking up and storage Choose an amount that suits how often you use dried fruit and follow the product’s storage instructions. If we only eat dried fruit occasionally, I want to choose a pack that suits how we use it. Around 18% of consumers prioritise having the right amount in stock and following product-specific storage instructions.

Common mistakes when buying dried fruit for toddlers

  • Treating a large bag as a child’s portion

    A pack contains several portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a small portion of raisins, as dried fruit is relatively high in sugar.

    Prepare a small portion and don’t let the pack weight determine how much your child gets. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fresh fruit as the better choice.

  • Assuming child-friendly packaging provides all the safety information you need

    The packaging or product name won’t necessarily tell you how large the pieces are or how to serve them.

    Check the pieces yourself, cut them smaller if needed, make sure your child is sitting calmly and stay close by, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

  • Applying the same storage period to all dried fruit

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage advice for dried mixed fruit applies specifically to that product. It doesn’t automatically apply to raisins or fruit mixes.

    Follow the label and the storage instructions for the specific pack you buy.

Supermarket brands for reference

Albert Heijn

AH’s product information describes golden raisins and refers shoppers to the current label.

  • The product page names a specific product: AH Golden Raisins.
  • Check the pack for the current product information; the product page doesn’t assess whether it is suitable for toddlers.

Jumbo

The product information lists Jumbo sultanas in 250 g, 500 g and 750 g packs.

  • The pack weights listed offer different quantities for household use.
  • The amount in the bag doesn’t determine a child’s portion.

Lidl

The product page lists dried fruit and states that the product is available in selected stores.

  • The store information confirms that it’s in the dried fruit category.
  • The selected-store condition applies to this product listing; it doesn’t say anything about availability in other stores.

ALDI

The product information lists 500 g of raisins under the Trader Joe's label.

  • The stated pack weight helps you estimate how much you’ll have at home.
  • A store description isn’t an independent assessment of quality or suitability for toddlers.

PLUS

PLUS product information lists Sultana raisins in a 375 g stand-up pouch.

  • The specific pack weight gives you an option for stocking up.
  • The pack isn’t a pre-measured child’s portion or an independently tested choice.

Dirk

The store information lists 750 g of raisins and 375 g of 1 de Beste sultanas.

  • Different pack weights are listed.
  • The product listings don’t substantiate a general price advantage at Dirk.

A Joybuy product for sharing at snack time

This Joybuy product is a mixed snack bundle for households that want to share a variety of snacks; it’s not a pack containing dried fruit only.

Full of fruit flavor, nuts and dried fruit, 5-pack, 1,073 kg

Full of fruit flavor, nuts and dried fruit, 5-pack, 1,073 kg

Suitable for a household that wants to share different types of snacks; the bundle also includes nuts and banana chips.

The product information lists five types of snacks, including blackcurrant raisins, prunes and dates, and mentions individual packs and ready-to-eat snacks.

Contains tree nuts. The Californian prunes contain aspartame (E951), a source of phenylalanine. After opening, the contents should be refrigerated and eaten within one day, according to the product description.

View product

Frequently asked questions about dried fruit for toddlers

How should you serve dried fruit at toddler snack time?

Make sure your child is sitting calmly, stay close by and ensure the pieces aren’t too large. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends these measures to reduce the risk of choking; they don’t guarantee that every piece of dried fruit is suitable for every child.

Is there one standard portion in grams for every toddler?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a small portion of raisins because of their sugar content. Don’t automatically use an adult portion as a guide for your toddler, and don’t let a large pack determine how much your child gets.

What should you look for in the allergen information for dried fruit?

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that relevant allergens must be clearly and correctly listed on the label. If you have a known allergy or intolerance, check the information for the specific product; the fruit name alone doesn’t confirm that the ingredients are suitable.

How long can you keep an opened pack?

Follow the label and storage instructions for the specific product. For dried mixed fruit, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide recommends keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 6–9 months after opening; this isn’t a general storage period for all dried fruit.

How do you choose a large pack for occasional use?

Choose a net weight that suits what your household actually uses and follow the product-specific storage instructions. A larger pack isn’t automatically the right choice if you only serve dried fruit occasionally.