First decide which substance you want to avoid, then check the ingredients, the specific dietary claim and any warnings on the packaging of the exact variant. A claim such as ‘gluten-free’ or ‘no added sugar’ does not prove that the product is suitable for every allergy. For your TV night, it’s also a good idea to set aside a small portion in advance.
If gluten, milk proteins, peanuts or nuts influence your choice, check the exact variant and any cross-contamination warnings. A general claim is no guarantee that a snack meets all your dietary requirements.
If you need to avoid sulphites, check the ingredients and preservatives separately. A product with no added sugar may still contain sulphites.
If you want to avoid added sugars and keep track of how much you eat while watching, check both the ingredients list and the nutritional information. Setting aside a portion in advance makes it easier to put the pack away afterwards.
Start with the substance you want to avoid. Then check for added sugars, your preferred portion size and the storage instructions for the pack.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and dietary claims | Check the ingredients, the specific claim and all ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack. | If gluten, milk proteins, peanuts or nuts affect what you can eat, check the exact variant. Around 31% of consumers prioritise checking allergens or suitability for their diet. |
| Sulphites | Look for sulphites, sulphur dioxide and preservatives such as E220. | If you avoid sulphites, you’ll want to know whether the product lists them. Around 25% of consumers make avoiding sulphites their first priority when choosing. |
| Added sugars | Read the ingredients list and nutritional information; ‘no added sugar’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. | If your main aim is to avoid added sugars, check the total sugar content too. Around 19% of consumers give this consideration priority. |
| Portion size | Check the stated portion size and set aside an amount in advance. | If you’d rather not keep eating from the bag while watching, you can portion out your snack beforehand. Around 13% of consumers prioritise portion control. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the net weight and follow the storage and resealing instructions after opening. | If you plan to use the pack over several evenings, it’s useful to know how to store its contents. Around 12% of consumers focus mainly on practical use and packaging. |
A claim may relate to one substance, while the same packaging warns about other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn’s product page for the dried mango reviewed here includes warnings about peanuts and several types of nuts.
Consider each substance you need to avoid separately and read the packaging of the variant you choose.
The PLUS apricots reviewed here list both 0 g of added sugars and E220 (sulphite). These features need to be checked separately.
As well as checking the sugar information, look at the ingredients and preservatives.
No added sugar doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having no more than a handful of dried fruit.
Set aside a small portion before you start watching and put the rest away.
If you snack straight from the bag, you may eat more than you intended.
Storage instructions vary by product. The Albert Heijn mango reviewed here has a limited shelf life once opened; for Blue thompson raisins, the advice is to reseal the pack properly after use.
Choose a net weight that suits how you’ll use it, and follow the storage instructions for the exact variant.
If you don’t store the contents as instructed or use them in time after opening, food may go to waste.
The organic variants reviewed include raisins and dried mango, with product information covering ingredients, dietary features and nutritional values.
The dried pitted apricots reviewed are intended to be eaten as a fruit snack, with product information per 100 g and per portion.
Lidl’s Alesto range includes nuts, dried fruit, snacks and toppings.
The product listings reviewed include raisins and sun-dried apricots from Trader Joe’s.
The dried apricots in a stand-up pouch reviewed here have product information covering ingredients, storage and added sugars.
Dirk has a product page for pitted apricots in a 200 g pack.
Joybuy product picks for enjoying dried fruit as a snack during a TV night.
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The product information describes the jackfruit as a snack and lists jackfruit as the only ingredient.
The pack is described as containing six 25 g sachets. The information states that no sugar is added; if you need to avoid a particular substance, always check the current packaging.
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The product information describes the jackfruit as a snack and lists jackfruit as the only ingredient.
The pack contains 25 g and no added sugar is listed. If you need to avoid a particular substance, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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The product information describes the strawberries as a ready-to-eat snack.
The pack contains 50 g and can be resealed after opening. The ingredients list includes dried strawberries and sugar, so this variant isn’t suitable if you’re avoiding added sugar.
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The product information describes the apricots as a ready-to-eat snack.
The ingredients list includes sugar, maltose syrup and sodium metabisulphite. This variant isn’t suitable if you’re avoiding added sugars or sulphites; check the allergen information on the packaging too.
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The product information describes the apricots as a ready-to-eat snack.
The ingredients list includes sugar, maltose syrup and sulphite (E223). This variant isn’t suitable if you’re avoiding added sugars or sulphites; check the allergen information on the packaging too.
No. Lactose intolerance affects the digestion of milk sugar, while a cow’s milk allergy involves the immune system reacting to milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, don’t rely on a lactose-free claim alone when assessing a snack, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also explains.
It’s a warning that an allergen may be present unintentionally. According to the NVWA, the Dutch policy for these warnings applies from 1 January 2026. Safe older stock produced under the applicable conditions may still be sold. Check the warning on the packaging of the variant you buy.
No. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean there are no sugars in the product. For a ‘sugar-free’ claim, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre states a maximum of 0.5 g of sugar per 100 g or per 100 ml; dried fruit can contain naturally occurring sugars.
Check the ingredients and look for sulphites, sulphur dioxide and preservatives such as E220 or E223. A short ingredients list with no mention of sulphites is not, by itself, a guarantee that the product contains none.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen. For the Blue thompson raisins from Albert Heijn reviewed here, the advice is to reseal the pack properly after use; the mango reviewed here is described as having a limited shelf life once opened.
