Small snack boxes are handy for party bags if you want to keep portioning to a minimum. A bag is a better choice if you want to decide the portions yourself and use any leftovers at breakfast. Check the organic labelling, ingredients and allergens separately on the exact pack: the European Commission explains organic labelling, while the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority covers allergen information. For young children, portions and pieces should be suitable for the way they eat; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that they sit calmly and are supervised.
You’re looking for dried fruit for party bags and want to assess more than just the product name. Look at the organic labelling, and check the ingredients and allergens separately. The European Commission explains organic labelling; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) covers allergen information on prepacked products.
You want to keep preparation to a minimum and give each child an individual portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treats and gives raisins as an example.
You want to decide how much goes into each bag and perhaps use the rest at breakfast. A bag gives you a different option from ready-portioned treats; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests adding dried fruit to breakfast.
First decide how much portioning you want to do. Then check the portion size and product information for the children who will receive the treat.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic labelling | Check the labelling on the exact pack. The European Commission explains the EU organic logo, the control body code and the agricultural origin. | If I buy organic, I want to be able to check the labelling on that exact pack. Around 26% of consumers prioritise verifiable organic status. |
| Portion size and eating safely | Check the amount per treat and, for young children, the size of the pieces. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that children sit calmly and are supervised while eating. | I want to choose a small treat with pieces that are suitable for the children. Around 26% of consumers prioritise portion size and suitability for eating. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current pack. The NVWA explains the allergen information that must be provided on prepacked products. | When sharing treats with a group, I want to know what they contain and take any known dietary restrictions into account. Around 21% of consumers prioritise ingredients and suitability for their diet. |
| Preparation | Check whether the pack contains individual portions. The total weight alone won’t tell you how many treats you can hand out. | If I’m short on time, I look for an option that requires little portioning. Around 16% of consumers prioritise ease of preparation. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the pack size with the number of children and the portion you want to hand out. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says dried fruit can also be served at breakfast. | I want to bring enough for the group and perhaps use any leftover fruit later. Around 11% of consumers prioritise quantity and making use of leftovers. |
Organic labelling, ingredients and allergens answer different questions. An organic label alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is unsweetened or suitable for a specific allergy.
Check each of these separately on the exact product’s packaging, and ask about known dietary restrictions when handing out treats to a group.
A 250 g bag doesn’t tell you how much each child will get. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treats.
Decide on the portion per child first, then work out how many treats you can make from the pack.
Portioning treats yourself takes time and may mean you need extra bags.
An online product listing doesn’t automatically confirm that the product is currently available. Jumbo’s pages for Trafo snack boxes and Smaakt Blue Thompson say these products are no longer part of its online range.
Check with the retailer before basing your party bag plans on a particular product.
If your chosen product isn’t available, you may need to plan for a different type of packaging.
Albert Heijn lists organic raisins, unsweetened dried mango and organic apricots, among other products.
Jumbo lists organic sultanas in a 250 g bag.
PLUS lists BIO+ sultanas, 250 g; Smaakt Blue Thompson organic raisins, 500 g; and De Kleine Keuken 12+ Organic Raisins, 140 g.
Lidl Netherlands has a product listing for Belbake Organic Raisins.
Dirk lists Bio+ Sultana raisins.
These products are suited to small portions of raisins or other dried fruit, as well as portioning treats yourself from a bag.
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A good fit if you’re looking for individual portions of raisins for party bags.
The product information lists ten snack boxes, each containing 14 g. The product description says 12M+ and recommends supervision while eating; it also says the product isn’t suitable for children with swallowing difficulties.
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An alternative fruit choice if you’re considering dates as well as raisins.
The product description calls them mini dates and says they’re suitable from 12 months. It recommends keeping your child sitting upright and supervising them. After opening, seal the pack airtight and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
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A bag is a good fit if you want to decide the portion size for each treat yourself.
The product name states 250 g. The product description suggests adding them to breakfast cereal and warns that a small stem or stone may remain despite cleaning. Check the organic labelling on the packaging.
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A small fruity snack if you’re looking for something different from raisins.
The product name states 20 g and mentions apricots. This is a fruit snack, not a product made exclusively from dried fruit. The product description says it’s suitable from 12 months and may contain traces of nuts.
According to the European Commission, the control body code and agricultural origin appear alongside the EU organic logo. The labelling rules apply, among other things, to prepacked foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. This doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for every child or diet.
No. Check organic labelling and added sugar separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also distinguishes between dried fruit and sweetened dried fruit; according to its factsheet, the latter isn’t included in the Wheel of Five.
Stay nearby while young children are eating and make sure they sit calmly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises that pieces of food shouldn’t be too large for toddlers. An age label such as 12+ doesn’t replace these precautions.
Ask in advance about any restrictions and check the current packaging of the exact product. The NVWA explains the allergen information that must be provided on prepacked products. Don’t assume that ‘organic’ also means ‘allergen-free’.
For these specific raisins, the manufacturer recommends storing them in the fridge at home. Follow the instructions on the packaging; this isn’t general storage advice for all dried fruit.
