Choose a large bag if you eat dried fruit regularly and want to weigh out your own portions for walks; opt for a smaller pack if you want to try the flavour and see how much you use first. Check the net weight, ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions. A large bag, multipack or ‘no added sugar’ claim doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether a pack is right for your needs.
You eat dried fruit on several walks and at home too. You want to keep a suitable supply and weigh out smaller amounts yourself. Packaging information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, along with general storage advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, can help you decide.
You don’t want to buy a large amount of just one type of fruit straight away. A smaller pack may suit you if you want to see whether the flavour and quantity work for you first; PLUS, for example, lists a 375 g bag of Sultana raisins.
Ingredients, added sugar or a personal sensitivity are important factors for you. Check the label on the specific pack you’re considering. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority provides information about allergens, and Albert Heijn notes that its dried pineapple may contain peanuts and nuts.
First, work out how much you’ll actually use at home. Then consider portions for taking on the go, the ingredients and any warnings on the pack.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Supplies and how much you use | Compare the confirmed net weight with how much you use at home and on walks. Also check the storage instructions once opened. | If you want to use your supplies both at home and on the go, you’ll want to avoid having unused packs left over after walks; around 34% of consumers prioritise keeping a suitable amount in stock. |
| Taking it with you and portioning | Check the net weight and serving information on the label. Decide separately how much you want to take with you. | If you want to prepare an amount for a walk in advance, weighing it out yourself is a practical option; around 20% of consumers prioritise portion control and portability. |
| Sugar and ingredients | Read both the ingredients list and the nutrition information under ‘of which sugars’. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’. | If you want to keep an eye on added sugar and total sugars, check both listings; around 20% of consumers prioritise ingredients and sugar information. |
| Flavour and pack size | Consider trying a new type of fruit in a smaller pack first. Follow the storage instructions for that specific type. | If you want to try different flavours or work out how much you use first, a smaller amount may suit you better; around 13% of consumers prioritise variety and keeping a smaller supply. |
| Sensitivities and allergens | Check the full ingredients and allergen information, including warnings such as ‘may contain’. | If a personal sensitivity affects which products you can choose, the label on the exact product is key; around 13% of consumers prioritise checking this information. |
A multipack may consist of separate products. That doesn’t automatically mean the contents are divided into portions you can take with you straight away.
Check how many packs are included, the confirmed total weight and the portion information. The Albert Heijn multipack reviewed is supplied as separate items.
The Albert Heijn and PLUS raisins reviewed contain no added sugar, but do contain total sugars.
Check the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ line separately, and assess the information for the specific pack you’re buying.
The term ‘unsulphured’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you anything about other preservatives. For example, a discontinued Albert Heijn variety of unsulphured apricots listed potassium sorbate (E202).
Check the full ingredients list and allergen information for the specific product, rather than relying on a single product description.
These brand names refer to the product ranges and packs reviewed; ingredients and features may vary between products.
The range reviewed includes a 750 g bag of raisins, a separate multipack listing and smaller packs of other types of fruit.
The sun-dried Sultana raisins reviewed come in a 750 g pack, suitable if you want to weigh out your own portions at home.
Lidl describes the Alesto range as including dried fruit, such as mango strips for taking on the go.
The Dutch product page reviewed lists Trader Joe’s raisins in a 500 g pack.
PLUS Sultana raisins were reviewed in a 375 g stand-up pouch, for anyone looking for a smaller supply.
The search page reviewed lists 750 g bags of raisins and 375 g bags of 1 de Beste Sultana raisins.
These Joybuy products range from a sharing snack mix to smaller packs of dried fruit. Check the ingredients and portion packaging for each product.
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A sharing mix for anyone looking for nut snacks as well as dried fruit.
The pack contains 5 items, with a stated net weight of 1.073 kg. The mix contains tree nuts; the prunes are listed as containing aspartame (E951) and a source of phenylalanine.
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The six individual sachets are ideal if you’re looking for ready-portioned snacks to take on the go.
The pack contains 6 sachets of 25 g, totalling 150 g. The ingredients list includes pineapple and sugar; 5% white sugar is stated.
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A smaller pack for trying a different type of dried fruit.
The pack contains 180 g. The ingredients list includes sugar and a preservative; follow the storage advice on the pack.
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A smaller pack for anyone who wants to take dried dragon fruit along as a snack.
The pack contains 180 g. The product information says to store in a cool, dry place.
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A small pack for trying dried mango as a snack.
The pack contains 100 g. The ingredients list includes mango, sugar and the sulphite preservative E223.
No. The serving size on a label isn’t automatically personal nutritional advice. For the raisins reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 25 g per serving and Jumbo 15 g; these are different serving sizes stated on the packs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides general information about dried fruit, not an individual walking or sports nutrition plan.
Always follow the storage instructions on the pack first. For opened raisins, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide recommends 6–9 months in a kitchen cupboard; don’t automatically apply this guidance to other types of fruit.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack, including any warnings such as ‘may contain’. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains allergen information; Albert Heijn notes that the dried pineapple reviewed may contain peanuts and nuts.
Plan according to the walk you’re going on. In its walking advice, PlusOnline distinguishes between a short walk and a longer outing; longer walks require more planning for food and drink. A large pack is a way of stocking up, not a recommendation to eat extra during a walk.
No. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean the product contains no total sugars. Check both the ingredients list and the nutrition information under ‘of which sugars’ on the pack you’re considering.
