Choose dried fruit or a fruit snack by checking the current pack for the particular allergen you need to avoid, rather than treating “vegan” or “100% fruit” as a general free-from claim. Tesco and Sainsbury’s describe specific BEAR snacks as gluten free and nut free, while other dried-fruit products declare sulphites or carry precautionary warnings; those differences apply to the named products, not every item in either range. For an allergy-aware tea break, check the ingredients and any “may contain” statement on each pack before serving.
Look for wording about the relevant allergen on the exact snack you plan to serve. Tesco and Sainsbury’s describe their listed BEAR Fruit Bites and Fruit Splits products as gluten free and nut free; check the current packs for those claims.
Check dried-fruit ingredients for sulphur dioxide or sulphites. The Food Standards Agency identifies these as ingredients often used in dried fruit, and the listed Tesco mixed fruit and M&S dried pineapple both declare them.
Keep each product’s packaging available so guests can check its ingredients and warnings for themselves. Individually wrapped snacks can also make it easier to keep different choices separate.
Start with the allergen that matters to you, then consider how the fruit will be served at tea time.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen wording for the exact product. Check any precautionary “may contain” statement separately; a short ingredient list is not a nut-free or gluten-free claim. | I need the pack to address the substance I avoid, not just describe the snack as vegan or made from fruit. |
| Sulphites | Look for sulphur dioxide or sulphites in the ingredients. Tesco Dried Mixed Fruit and M&S Dried Pineapple declare them, according to their product listings. | If sulphites matter to me, I cannot decide from the type of fruit or a “100% fruit” description alone. |
| Serving format | Check the portion size and whether packs are individually wrapped or intended for sharing. Keep the labelled outer pack available when serving separate portions. | For afternoon tea with several guests, I want everyone to be able to identify the snack and check its label. |
| Preparation | Confirm whether the product is ready to eat or requires preparation. Check the current pack again if a product has been substituted. | I’m looking for something I can put out at tea time without overlooking preparation instructions or a change of product. |
Those descriptions do not address every allergen. M&S Dried Pineapple, for example, is described as fruit but lists sulphites and is marked unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergies.
Use dietary and ingredient claims as separate checks, then read the current allergen information for the product you will serve.
The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphur dioxide and sulphites as ingredients often used in dried fruit. Tesco Dried Mixed Fruit and M&S Dried Pineapple provide product-specific examples that declare them.
If you avoid sulphites, check for both names in the ingredients rather than relying on the fruit type.
Whitworths lists raisins and sunflower oil for Sunny Raisins, but that ingredient list alone does not establish whether the product meets a nut-avoidance requirement.
Check the current pack for nut-related wording or ask the manufacturer about the specific product before serving it to someone who needs to avoid nuts.
The pack supplied may have different ingredient or allergen information from a listing viewed earlier, particularly after a recipe change or substitution.
Read the physical pack each time you buy or serve the snack, including any precautionary warning.
These examples show why allergen information needs to be checked product by product; a brand or retailer name does not establish suitability across a range.
Tesco describes BEAR Fruit Bites Berry as gluten free and nut free, while Sainsbury’s gives those descriptions for BEAR Fruit Splits Pineapple & Raspberry. Both listings describe individually packed portions.
Whitworths lists raisins and sunflower oil for Sunny Raisins. Its Raisin & Chocolate SHOTS has a different allergen profile.
Tesco’s listings provide contrasting product examples: BEAR Fruit Bites Berry is described as gluten free and nut free, while Tesco Dried Mixed Fruit contains sulphites.
M&S Dried Pineapple illustrates why fruit-focused wording and allergen suitability are separate questions.
These options include portioned fruit snacks and dried-fruit products to consider for an afternoon tea break. Check each current pack against your own allergen requirements; their formats and preparation needs differ.
No image available
A raspberry fruit-snack option for the tea table. The pack is listed as 5 x 20g; check its current ingredients, allergen wording and any precautionary statement before serving it to someone avoiding a particular allergen.
No image available
A strawberry-and-apple fruit snack to consider when putting out portions for guests. The listed pack size is 5x20g; check the physical pack for the exact free-from claims you need rather than relying on claims for other BEAR products.
No image available
An apple-and-blackcurrant option if you want a listed 5 x 20g fruit-snack pack for afternoon tea. Confirm the current pack’s ingredients and allergen statements for each guest’s requirements.
No image available
A freeze-dried fig option in a 40g pack for a dried-fruit selection. If you plan to share it, retain the packaging so guests can check its current ingredients and allergen information.
No image available
This 100g wolfberry product is an ingredient rather than a ready-to-serve tea-break snack: its product information calls for washing and cooking before consumption. Check the current pack for preparation instructions and allergen information.
No. “Vegan” does not tell you whether a product contains, or carries a precautionary warning for, every allergen you need to avoid. Read the current ingredients, allergen wording and any “may contain” statement for that specific snack.
The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphur dioxide and sulphites as ingredients often used in dried fruit. They are among the allergens UK food businesses must communicate when present as ingredients; Tesco Dried Mixed Fruit and M&S Dried Pineapple both declare sulphites in their product listings.
Ask the retailer for allergen information about the specific loose product before buying it. UK food-business guidance requires information about listed allergens in food provided to customers, but loose food will not give you a sealed pack with an ingredient list to check at the tea table.
No. Use the listing to narrow your choices, then read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you receive before serving or eating it, particularly if the product has been substituted.
Yes, if you need to avoid the named allergen, the warning is relevant to your choice. Whitworths Raisin & Chocolate SHOTS, for example, declares soya and sulphur dioxide and separately warns that it may contain peanuts, other nuts, milk, sesame and cereals containing gluten.