Organic raisins work well as a simple snack or topping, while unsweetened dried mango is a good choice if you fancy a different fruit. A fruit and nut mix suits you if you’re looking for that combination. Check the organic certification, ingredients and portion size: unsweetened doesn’t mean sugar-free, and a mix containing nuts needs extra consideration if you have a nut allergy.
You’re looking for organic dried fruit for a morning snack and want to distinguish the certification mark from information about ingredients, added sugar and portion sizes. The European Commission and Skal Biocontrole explain organic labelling and certification; the ingredients list and nutritional information help you assess the rest of the product’s composition.
You want to eat fruit on its own or add it to yoghurt or breakfast. Raisins and a fruit and nut mix have different ingredients; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests adding dried fruit to breakfast.
You want to try a different fruit or a combination with nuts. The unsweetened mango and fruit and nut mix we looked at offer different combinations; if you choose the mix, check that the allergen information is suitable for you.
Start with the ingredients you’re looking for, then check the certification, nutritional information and quantity that suit the way you’ll use it.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable organic certification | Check the EU organic logo, control code and farming origin. The European Commission links the logo to organic certification. | If you choose organic, you’ll want to be able to verify the claim on the packaging; around 20% of consumers put organic certification first. |
| Sugar and portion size | Read the ingredients and nutritional information; compare sugars per 100 g and decide on your portion size. | I don’t want to mistake unsweetened for sugar-free, and I want to choose my portion mindfully; around 20% of consumers prioritise sugar and portion size. |
| Snack or topping | Choose a combination you’ll enjoy on its own or with yoghurt or breakfast; check the net weight. | If I want one product for different occasions, I look for a combination that works for both; around 20% of consumers prioritise versatility. |
| Variety and ingredients | Choose between a single fruit and a mix; if you have allergies, check the full allergen information. | I want to try a different fruit or deliberately combine fruit and nuts; around 20% of consumers make variety their main priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it and follow the storage advice for that exact product. | If I want to use a pack before it gets left untouched, I consider the quantity and storage advice; around 20% of consumers prioritise buying an amount that suits them. |
An organic label doesn’t tell you how much total sugar a product contains. The AH raisins we looked at list 0 g added sugars and 59 g sugars per 100 g; Albert Heijn provides this product information for this particular variety.
Check added sugars and total sugars separately, and decide in advance how much you want to eat.
The AH mix we looked at also contains almonds and pecans. This changes the ingredients and matters if you need to avoid nuts.
Choose the mix only if you’re looking for that combination, and check the allergen information on the packaging.
Portion sizes and storage advice can vary between products, so the packaging for one variety isn’t a general guide to all options.
Compare nutritional information on the same basis and follow the label on the product you buy.
A pack that doesn’t suit the way you use it may end up partly uneaten.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the AH Biologisch products we looked at offer specific options for raisins, unsweetened mango and a fruit and nut mix.
Jumbo Sun-Dried Organic Sultanas are a specific option if you’re looking for organic raisins, according to Jumbo’s ingredients information.
BIO+ Sultana raisins are one organic raisin option listed by PLUS.
Lidl Netherlands lists Belbake Organic Raisins as a product.
This Joybuy selection focuses on organic raisins for a measured snack.
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The product description lists organic raisins with no added sugars, in 10 snack boxes of 14 g.
According to the product information, store in a cool, dry, dark place. Suitable for children over 12 months; supervise them while they eat. Not suitable for children with swallowing difficulties.
No. Don’t use ‘natural’ as a substitute for an organic claim. Skal Biocontrole explains that ‘organic’ and related terms are protected; the EU organic logo is intended for organically certified products.
Not necessarily: control codes can vary between certification bodies. The European Commission states that the EU organic logo is compulsory for pre-packed foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. Also check the relevant code and farming origin on the packaging.
Not automatically. A portion size on the packaging is product information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating no more than a handful of dried fruit with no added sugar; this is different from the portion size a retailer lists for a product.
Check the full allergen information on the exact pack. The NVWA states that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. The AH fruit and nut mix we looked at contains almonds and pecans; according to the Food Allergy Foundation, dried fruit can contain sulphites.
Follow the storage advice for the exact product. For the raisins we looked at, AH and PLUS recommend storing them in a cool, dry, dark place; AH says to store the mango we looked at at room temperature in a dark place. For mixed dried fruit, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a well-sealed container; don’t automatically apply that advice to other products.
