Households packing lunch every school day
A larger bag suits households willing to portion raisins or sultanas into a lunch container and close the pack after use.
Who is each format for?
Families who prefer ready-portioned packs
Individual raisin boxes remove the morning measuring step. Check the weight of each box when deciding how it fits into the lunch meal.
Families checking ingredients and allergens
The exact pack matters: fruit-and-nut mixes can contain nuts, while some dried-fruit products contain sulphur dioxide. Read the current label and check the school’s food policy before packing them.
What should you check?
Start with a format you can pack consistently, then check the portion weight and the exact product label.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Check the total pack weight, the number of individual portions and whether a larger pack can be closed after opening. | I pack lunches regularly and can fill a small container, or I need a portion that is ready to put straight in the lunchbox. |
| Portion and timing | The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion and advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes to reduce tooth-decay risk. Check the weight of an individual box rather than assuming it contains 30g. | I want the fruit packed as part of lunch, not left for grazing at break or on the journey home. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredient list for added ingredients and coatings. A fruit-and-nut mix is a different product from plain raisins. | If I am looking for raisins alone, I need to check the pack rather than rely on a fruit-based product name. |
| Allergen information | Read the current ingredients and precautionary allergen information, and check the school’s policy. The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphur dioxide and sulphites as ingredients used in some dried fruit. | Before packing a mix or a different dried fruit, I need to know whether that exact product suits the pupil’s requirements and the school’s rules. |
Packed-lunch pitfalls
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Leaving dried fruit for between-meal snacking
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Pack it with the lunch meal rather than as something to graze on at break or after school.
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Treating every fruit-based snack as plain dried fruit
Ingredients differ: Whitworths’ Fruit & Nut Mix contains almonds, cashews and sulphur dioxide, while Tesco’s dried mango snack pack lists sulphur dioxide and precautionary allergen information.
Read the full current label of the exact pack and check the school’s policy before putting it in a lunchbox.
Brand and product-line references
Sainsbury’s
Its listed raisin formats include 500g bags and individual 14g snack boxes.
- The listed seedless 500g raisins contain raisins and high-oleic sunflower oil.
- Individual boxes still need checking against the portion size intended for the lunch.
Whitworths
Its Sunny Raisins come in 14g boxes; its Fruit & Nut Mix is a different kind of lunchbox product.
- Whitworths lists raisins and sunflower oil as the ingredients in Sunny Raisins.
- Its Fruit & Nut Mix contains almonds, cashews and sulphur dioxide, and may contain other nuts and sesame.
M&S
Its listed formats include 10 Taste Buds raisin snack boxes and a 500g raisin bag.
- The boxes provide individual lunchbox portions.
- Check the portion weight and the current pack information for the format you choose.
Tesco
Its listed 35g dried mango snack pack illustrates a single-serve alternative to raisins.
- The 35g pack has a stated portion weight for planning a lunch.
- Its ingredients list sulphur dioxide, and its label includes precautionary information for peanuts, nuts, sesame and soya.
Joybuy product options
These options include individual raisin boxes, larger bags of raisins and sultanas, portioned red dates and chestnuts. Chestnuts are a different lunchbox food, not a substitute for dried fruit; check the school’s policy before considering them.
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Organix Goodies Raisins 12+ Months, 12 x 14g
The individual 14g boxes can go into a lunchbox without portioning at home. Each box is smaller than the NHS’s 30g dried-fruit reference portion.
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Morrisons Raisins 500g
This 500g bag suits households that can portion raisins into a lunch container. The NHS advises eating dried fruit with the lunch meal rather than between meals.
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Morrisons Sultanas 500g
This 500g bag offers sultanas for lunches where someone can portion the fruit at home. Pack the portion with the lunch meal in line with NHS advice on dried fruit.
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Hao Xiang Ni Ready-to-Eat Red Dates, 900g (30 x 30g)
The 30g sachets offer individual portions of red dates rather than raisins. These dates contain pits, so check that this format is suitable before packing it for a pupil.
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Fu Yi Nong Shelled Chestnuts 270g (3 packs × 6)
These chestnuts are a different lunchbox option from dried raisins or sultanas. Check the exact pack and the school’s nut policy before considering them; some peeling may be needed.
Common questions
How much dried fruit should I pack for lunch?
The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion. That is a useful reference when portioning a larger bag; a 14g raisin box contains less than 30g.
Should dried fruit be eaten at lunch or at break?
Pack it to eat with lunch. NHS guidance advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Can a fruit-and-nut mix replace plain raisins?
Check the exact mix against the pupil’s requirements and the school’s policy first. Sainsbury’s listed mixed nuts and raisins contain peanuts and several tree nuts; Whitworths’ Fruit & Nut Mix contains almonds and cashews and may contain other nuts and sesame.
Why check dried fruit for sulphites?
Some dried-fruit products contain sulphur dioxide or sulphites. The Food Standards Agency identifies these as ingredients used in dried fruit and notes a higher risk of reaction for people with asthma; Tesco’s listed dried mango snack pack contains sulphur dioxide. Read the current label of the product you intend to pack.