Albert Heijn and PLUS product pages state that the raisins reviewed are gluten-free and lactose-free, but that doesn’t prove they’re suitable for people with other allergies. Check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging, choose pieces that are right for your toddler and keep the portion small. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fresh fruit as a better everyday choice.
You’re looking for a snack for your toddler that fits a prescribed diet. Check for the specific substance you need to avoid: a general ‘free from’ claim doesn’t mean a product is free from all allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains which allergens must be listed on pre-packed products.
You want to be able to judge whether your child can chew the pieces easily. Consider their size, make sure your child is sitting calmly and supervise them while they eat. Child-friendly packaging alone tells you nothing about the texture.
You’re looking for something you can portion yourself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a small portion of dried fruit and varying it with fresh fruit.
First, work out which substance your toddler needs to avoid, then check the texture, portion size and packaging. The NVWA says allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods, so check the exact packaging.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific dietary requirement | Check the ingredients and allergen warnings. A gluten-free or lactose-free claim only answers that specific dietary question. | If I need to avoid gluten or lactose for my toddler, I want to be able to check for the relevant substance on the label. Around 36% of consumers put dietary suitability first. |
| Texture and piece size | Consider whether your child can chew the pieces easily; make them smaller if you’re unsure, and watch out for whole nuts in mixes. | If my toddler struggles with hard or large pieces, I want to be able to adjust the texture and supervise them. Around 29% of consumers focus mainly on texture and piece size. |
| Sugars and portion size | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure and serve a small portion. No added sugars doesn’t mean the product is low in total sugars. | If I serve dried fruit as a snack, I want to keep the portion modest. Around 21% of consumers make portion size and sugar their main priority. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the exact packaging. | If I portion it myself, I want to choose packaging that suits how I use the product and store the contents properly. Around 14% of consumers focus mainly on stock and storage. |
Gluten-free and lactose-free address different dietary needs and don’t guarantee that a product is free from all allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also distinguishes between lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy.
Work out which substance your child needs to avoid, then check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
The Albert Heijn and PLUS product pages state that the raisins reviewed contain 0 g of added sugars. They also list 59 g and 68.2 g of total sugars per 100 g respectively; these figures apply to those specific varieties.
As well as checking the ingredients, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure, keep the portion small and vary it with fresh fruit, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends.
A mix may contain different ingredients from plain raisins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises paying attention to hard pieces and whole nuts when feeding young children.
Check the ingredients of the exact mix and look over the pieces before offering them.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says children can also eat sulphur-treated raisins. Avoiding sulphites is relevant for anyone with a sulphite sensitivity. Jumbo Blanke Rozijnen 250 g lists sulphur dioxide and sulphites.
If sulphites are a concern for your child, check the sulphite information on the exact packaging and don’t base your choice on the colour of the raisins alone.
The AH Rozijnen reviewed are a 250 g plain variety. Albert Heijn states that this product is gluten-free and lactose-free.
The product information for Jumbo Blanke Rozijnen 250 g clearly states that it contains sulphites.
Lidl Netherlands lists dried fruit as a product available in selected stores.
ALDI Netherlands lists Trader Joe’s Rozijnen in a 500 g pack.
PLUS Sultana rozijnen is the 375 g plain variety reviewed. PLUS states that this product is gluten-free and lactose-free.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Blanke rozijnen in a 375 g pack.
No. Lactose intolerance involves milk sugar, while a cow’s milk allergy is a reaction by the immune system to milk proteins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre therefore advises against relying on a lactose-free claim instead of checking for milk when someone has a milk allergy.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says children can also eat sulphur-treated raisins. Avoiding sulphites is relevant for people who are sensitive to them; if this applies, check the sulphite information on the exact packaging.
Make sure your child is sitting calmly and stay nearby. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking that the pieces aren’t too large; make them smaller if you’re unsure whether your child can chew them. With mixes, also watch out for hard pieces and whole nuts.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a small portion, such as a small box or handful, rather than a universal amount in grams for every toddler. Don’t automatically treat the portion guidance on a product page as advice for toddlers.
The NVWA says allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. Since 1 January 2026, new rules have also applied in the Netherlands to warnings about the possible unintentional presence of allergens. Examples given by the NVWA include ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. These are requirements for businesses, not advice to avoid every allergen mentioned for every child.
