Shoppers comparing individual portions
Separate packs make the serving weight visible before you open one. If you use the NHS 5 A Day reference, compare each pack with its 30g dried-fruit portion rather than relying on the word ‘snack’.
Who are these multi-packs for?
Households sharing packs across lunches
Count both the packs and the grams in each one. Tesco’s 12 × 14g raisin boxes offer more separate packs than Whitworths’ five 30g Fruit Variety packs, but each box contains a smaller amount.
Shoppers choosing between fruit and fruit-and-nut mixes
A mixed pack needs an ingredient and allergen check before sharing. Whitworths’ Fruit + Nut Mix contains peanuts and sweetened dried cranberries, so it is a different choice from a fruit-only pack.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the weight per pack, then compare ingredients and the number of separate servings. A larger outer pack does not necessarily mean a larger individual portion.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Read the grams per sachet or box, not just the outer-pack weight. The NHS counts 30g of dried fruit as one 5 A Day portion; Tesco lists 14g per raisin box, while Whitworths lists 30g per Fruit Variety pack. | I may want one defined 30g portion, or a smaller box when that is the amount I intend to serve. |
| Meal timing | Plan when the packs will be eaten. The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. | Separate packs are useful to me, but I do not want their snack-sized packaging to encourage grazing through the day. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient and allergen information for the exact variant. Whitworths’ fruit-and-nut mix lists peanuts and sweetened cranberries; fruit-only and mixed packs are not interchangeable. | If I am sharing packs, I need to know whether everyone can eat the ingredients and whether the fruit has been sweetened. |
| Sharing format | Check both the number of individual packs and their weights. Tesco lists 12 × 14g raisin boxes; Whitworths lists five 30g packs in its Fruit Variety multipack. | For several people or occasions, the pack count matters alongside the serving size. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming every small pack is a full fruit portion
Tesco lists 14g in each mini raisin box, whereas the NHS dried-fruit 5 A Day portion is 30g.
Compare grams per individual pack before deciding what one box or sachet represents in your routine.
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Treating fruit-and-nut mix as fruit-only dried fruit
Whitworths’ Fruit + Nut Mix lists peanuts and sweetened dried cranberries, so its ingredients differ from those of a fruit-only pack.
Check the exact variant’s ingredients and allergens before choosing it for yourself or someone else.
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Using snack packs for frequent grazing
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk.
Decide which meal the pack is for instead of opening sachets repeatedly throughout the day.
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Confusing chocolate-coated raisins with plain dried fruit
Marks & Spencer lists raisins as 47% of its Belgian Milk Chocolate Raisins Multipack. It is not the same product type as plain raisins.
Read the product name, ingredients and nutrition panel when comparing fruit snacks.
Relevant brand references
Whitworths
Its 1DERS range includes separately packed dried fruit and a distinct fruit-and-nut option.
- Whitworths lists two 30g mango packs and three 30g apricot packs in its Fruit Variety multipack.
- Check the Fruit Variety pack’s sulphite information; the separate Fruit + Nut Mix contains peanuts and sweetened cranberries.
Tesco
Tesco’s Seedless Raisins 12 Pack is an example of a multipack made up of smaller boxes.
- Tesco lists 12 × 14g boxes, with 40kcal and 8.4g sugars per box.
- One 14g box is smaller than the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day portion.
M&S
M&S lists several kinds of fruit snack, including raisin boxes and chocolate-coated raisins.
- Its listings include Taste Buds 10 Raisin Snack Boxes 140g.
- Check the product type before comparing packs: chocolate-coated raisins and plain dried fruit have different ingredients.
Joybuy dried-fruit multi-packs
These packs contain individually portioned jujubes, red dates, cranberries or blueberries. Compare their stated pack weights and counts with the serving you intend to share; check the ingredient label for the exact product.
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Haoxiangni Crispy Gray Jujubes Original Flavour, 175g (7 packs)
Seven separate packs offer a format for sharing. The outer pack is labelled 175g; check the weight of an individual pack if you are comparing it with the NHS 30g dried-fruit portion. The name describes a crispy texture.
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Hao Xiang Ni Ready-to-Eat Red Dates, 900g (30 × 30g)
Thirty 30g sachets provide separately packed servings for sharing or planning meals. Each stated sachet weight matches the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day portion; check the product label and whether the dates contain pits before serving.
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Three Squirrels Daily Dried Cranberries, 256g (16 × 16g)
Sixteen individually packed 16g servings suit sharing when a smaller amount is intended. One pack is less than the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day portion. Check the ingredient list and nutrition panel if added sugar matters to your choice.
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Three Squirrels Daily Blueberry Dried Snack, 256g (16 × 16g)
The 16 separate 16g packs provide smaller servings to divide between people or occasions. A single pack is less than the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day portion; read the exact product’s ingredients and nutrition panel when comparing it with other fruit packs.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a dried-fruit portion for 5 A Day?
The NHS counts 30g of dried fruit as one 5 A Day portion. Check the grams in an individual sachet or box, since multipacks contain different serving sizes.
Is a 14g raisin box one dried-fruit 5 A Day portion?
No. Tesco lists 14g in each box of its Seedless Raisins 12 Pack, while the NHS dried-fruit 5 A Day portion is 30g. You can choose a 14g box as a smaller serving without treating it as the same amount.
When should I eat a dried-fruit pack?
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. Individually packed fruit can still be planned as part of a meal instead of used for repeated grazing.
What should I check before sharing a multipack?
Check the current label for serving weight, ingredients and allergens. Whitworths’ Fruit Variety pack lists sulphites, while its separate Fruit + Nut Mix lists peanuts and sweetened dried cranberries; do not assume that variants have the same ingredients.