For a gaming break, dried pineapple is a good fit if you fancy pineapple and want fruit to be the only ingredient; raisins are an option if that’s what you’re after, but the varieties reviewed also contain sunflower oil. Check the organic certification information and measure out your portion in advance: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day, and organic or unsweetened doesn’t mean sugar-free.
Fancy something sweet during a break without mindlessly snacking from a large bag? The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. This is dietary advice, not a legal limit on how much you can buy.
A natural look doesn’t in itself tell you whether a product is certified. The European Commission explains that the EU organic logo is linked to certification by an approved control body. If the logo appears on the packaging, also check the code and indication of origin.
Looking for dried fruit that you can measure out for a break and perhaps mix into your breakfast? Choose a fruit you enjoy and check the ingredients. Eating a product at breakfast doesn’t automatically make it a complete breakfast.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Compare the amount in the bag with the portion shown on the label, and measure out your own serving. A portion shown on the packaging isn’t automatically a daily recommendation. | Want to have a measured amount while gaming rather than eating straight from the bag? Around 34% of consumers prioritise portion control. |
| Organic certification | Check the organic product information and, if the EU organic logo is present, the control code and indication of origin. A Dutch code isn’t the only possible control code. | Want to check that the organic claim applies to the product you’re buying? Around 25% of consumers prioritise verifiable organic origin. |
| Ingredients and type of fruit | Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional values per 100 grams. The pineapple reviewed contains fruit only; the raisins reviewed also contain sunflower oil. | If you’re looking for a particular fruit flavour or prefer to see only fruit on the ingredients list, the composition may be a deciding factor. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this choice of ingredients. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare packs on the same unit-price basis and follow the storage instructions for the product you buy. Storage instructions can vary from product to product. | Want to use the same pack for snack breaks and perhaps breakfast, without buying more than you’ll use? Around 16% of consumers prioritise cost, storage and using a product for more than one purpose. |
Organic certification says nothing about the total amount of sugars. AH’s product information says no sugars have been added to the dried pineapple, but that doesn’t mean it contains no naturally occurring sugars.
Read both the ingredients list and the nutrition information for sugars, and decide in advance how much you want to eat.
The product pages reviewed give different portion sizes, including 15 and 25 grams. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day; a stated portion isn’t automatically the same as that recommendation.
Compare nutritional values per 100 grams and measure out your own portion.
The stated nutritional values and ingredients differ between the raisin varieties reviewed. A similar type of fruit or pack size doesn’t prove that the products are the same version.
Check the full product name, ingredients list and nutrition table on the pack you’re actually buying.
The pineapple pack reviewed contains 80 grams, while the raisin packs contain 250 grams. These quantities can’t be compared directly by looking at the price of each bag alone.
Compare the price for the same quantity and choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it.
AH Organic Dried Unsweetened Pineapple is an option if you’re looking for pineapple with fruit as the only ingredient.
Jumbo Sun-Dried Organic Sultana Raisins 250 g is an organic raisin option among the product ranges reviewed.
BIO+ Sultana raisins at PLUS are part of a product range sold in a 250-gram pack.
Dirk lists Bio+ Sultana Raisins in a 250-gram pack.
These Joybuy products are options for dried fruit snacks. If you’re specifically looking for organically certified fruit, check the current product packaging for certification information; a product name or type of fruit alone isn’t enough to confirm certification.
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The individual boxes may suit a break when you want to measure out a portion in advance; the product information says there are 10 boxes of 14 g.
The product name says Organic; if certification matters to you, check the current packaging for organic certification information.
According to the product information, the product contains no added sugars. The product information says it can be used from 12 months; supervise children while they eat and don’t give it to children with swallowing difficulties.
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This bag of freeze-dried pineapple may suit you if you’re looking for a pineapple snack; measure out your portion with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to eat no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day in mind.
The ingredients information lists 95% pineapple and 5% white sugar. So this isn’t an unsweetened variety, nor is it a product with fruit as the only ingredient.
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The six individual bags may suit you if you want to spread the product over several snack breaks.
Each bag contains 25 g; the product information lists 95% pineapple and 5% white sugar. Measure out a portion, and keep the dietary advice to eat no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day in mind separately from the pack size.
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The product information describes dried guava as a snack. No product-specific snack portion is given, so measure out an amount yourself.
As well as 95% guava, the ingredients information lists sugar and a preservative. Check the current packaging if you want to review the exact ingredients.
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The product information describes dried strawberry slices for snacking and as an addition to yoghurt and breakfast cereal.
The ingredients list includes sugar as well as dried strawberries. The product information says the pack is resealable, but doesn’t give a portion size for a snack.
No, a Dutch control code isn’t the only possible code. AH dried pineapple, for example, lists IT-BIO-009. The European Commission links the EU organic logo to certification by an approved control body; when the logo is used, the control code and an indication of origin should also appear.
No. The logo is compulsory for pre-packed organic food produced in the EU and sold as organic. Its use is optional for imported products that meet EU import requirements and for non-pre-packed organic products. So a missing logo isn’t always enough to conclude that a product can’t be organic.
Not if you want to follow the general dietary advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, which recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. Measure out your portion in advance, and treat portions of 15 or 25 grams shown on product pages as label information, not as equivalent daily recommendations.
Follow the storage instructions for the exact product variety. BIO+ raisins at PLUS say to store in a cool, dry, dark place; AH dried pineapple says to store at room temperature in a dark place. These product instructions don’t amount to a general recommendation to refrigerate all dried fruit.
Read the current allergen information on the packaging for the exact variety and check for any warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the mandatory allergen information on pre-packed products; an organic label doesn’t replace this check.
Compare the price for the same quantity and bear in mind the difference in pack size: the pineapple pack reviewed contains 80 grams, while the raisin packs contain 250 grams. Comparing only the price per bag therefore doesn’t give you a like-for-like comparison.
