Choose dried fruit by the particular allergen you need to avoid, using the exact product’s ingredient list, allergen statements and current pack label. ASDA’s listing for BEAR Fruit Treasures Berry and Sainsbury’s listing for BEAR Fruit Yoyos Raspberry make product-specific nut-free and gluten-free statements; those statements do not extend to other flavours or replace a check of the pack you buy.
If you need to avoid nuts, peanuts, cereals containing gluten, milk, soya, sesame or sulphites, look for information about that specific allergen on the exact product. A general description of dried fruit is not enough to establish suitability.
Individually wrapped packs may suit lunchboxes. Check the allergen statement for the particular flavour and pack: ASDA and Sainsbury’s describe the specified BEAR Berry and Raspberry multipacks as nut free and gluten free.
A larger pack may suit recipes and regular cupboard use. Tesco lists sultanas and sunflower oil as the ingredients in its 500g Sultanas pack, but advises shoppers to read the current label because product information can change.
Start with the allergen you need to avoid, then compare pack format for the way your household will use the fruit.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Named allergen | Read the exact product’s ingredients and any free-from statement. Check that the statement names the allergen you need to avoid; reread the physical pack when buying. | I need information about my household’s particular restriction, not a general claim about fruit or a whole brand. |
| Sulphites | Look for sulphur dioxide, sulphites and preservatives such as sodium metabisulphate. Food Standards Scotland notes that sulphites can be used in dried fruit; Whitworths lists sodium metabisulphate in its Favourites Mango. | If sulphites matter in my household, I need to check each product and flavour rather than assume all dried fruit has the same ingredients. |
| Precautionary warnings | Check for “may contain” and “not suitable for” wording as well as ingredients. The Food Standards Agency describes precautionary allergen labelling as a way to communicate possible unintended allergen presence. | A fruit-and-nut or coated snack needs its own check for the allergens I avoid, even when its fruit ingredients look familiar. |
| Pack format | Check portion size and total pack size against your intended use. The BEAR Berry and Raspberry listings describe 5 × 20g multipacks; Tesco lists its Sultanas in a 500g pack. | For lunchboxes, separate portions may be useful. For baking or cooking, I may prefer a larger pack once its label meets my household’s requirements. |
That description does not establish suitability for every allergen. M&S lists sulphur dioxide in its Dried Pineapple and says the product is not suitable for people with nut, peanut or sesame allergies.
Match the pack’s ingredients and allergy wording to the specific allergen you need to avoid.
Food Standards Scotland identifies sulphites as preservatives that can be used in dried fruit. Whitworths Favourites Mango lists sodium metabisulphate, while M&S Dried Pineapple lists sulphur dioxide.
If sulphites are relevant to your purchase, check the preservative and allergen declarations on each pack.
Whitworths Favourites Mango lists sodium metabisulphate. Its Raisin & Chocolate SHOTS list soya and sulphur dioxide and carry further “may contain” warnings.
Use the exact product and flavour label for the final check, rather than extending one product’s information across a range.
These examples illustrate why allergy information needs checking product by product; a retailer or brand name alone does not establish suitability.
Its range includes plain dried fruit and mixed or coated snacks with different ingredient and allergen information.
Its 500g Sultanas pack is an example of a larger dried-fruit pack for cooking or baking.
The retailer provides allergen-specific information for its own-brand range and product information for other snacks it sells.
Its product listing for BEAR Fruit Treasures Berry includes a dedicated allergy-advice field.
M&S publishes allergy-labelling information alongside product-specific ingredient and suitability details.
These packs offer different fruit types and sizes for a weekly shop. If you are avoiding an allergen, check the current ingredient and allergy information for the exact pack rather than treating its fruit type or its inclusion here as a free-from statement.
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The two-pack format may suit a household using wolfberries regularly. The product information says to wash and cook them before consumption; check the pack’s current allergen information for your requirements.
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A 300g dates pack is an option to consider for cooking or baking. Its product safety information warns that an occasional shell fragment may be present; check the current pack for allergen information as well.
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The 40g freeze-dried fig pack is a smaller snack format. Check its current ingredients and allergy wording if you need to avoid a particular allergen.
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This is the single 100g wolfberry pack rather than the two-pack. The product information says to wash and cook the berries before consumption; read the current pack for the allergen details you need.
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The 80g pack is another size to consider for cooking, including porridge or soup. Confirm the current ingredients and allergy information against your household’s requirements.
No. Food Standards Scotland notes that sulphites can be used as preservatives in dried fruit, and Whitworths lists soya and sulphur dioxide in its Raisin & Chocolate SHOTS, alongside several “may contain” warnings. Check the current ingredients and allergy information for each product.
It tells you about the stated restriction on the specified product, not every allergen or every flavour in a range. ASDA makes nut-free and gluten-free statements for BEAR Fruit Treasures Berry, while Sainsbury’s makes them for BEAR Fruit Yoyos Raspberry; check the exact pack you intend to buy.
Sulphites can be used as dried-fruit preservatives, according to Food Standards Scotland. Whitworths Favourites Mango lists sodium metabisulphate, and M&S Dried Pineapple lists sulphur dioxide, so check the ingredient declaration if sulphites are relevant to your household.
Use the listing to identify a possible product, then check the physical pack’s ingredients and allergy statements before buying and using it. Tesco advises that ingredients and allergen information can change, so an earlier listing should not replace the current label.