Who is this for?

Runners practising long-run fuelling

If you plan to carry dried fruit on a run, try the fruit, portion and timing in training rather than for the first time at an event. British Cycling notes that food tolerance during endurance exercise is individual.

Runners buying organic snacks regularly

A larger pack lets you prepare repeat portions at home. Check that the exact product is labelled organic, then compare pack weights and the retailer’s displayed price per kilogram if you are choosing between similar fruits.

Shoppers checking allergen labels

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as an ingredient used in some dried fruit, while an ASDA mixed-fruit listing declares sulphites and precautionary nut information.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the portion you intend to carry and eat, then compare the pack format, label and nutrition information for the exact fruit.

Priority What to check Your needs
Carbohydrate per portion Read the carbohydrate value per serving or per 100 g, and measure the portion you plan to pack. The UK Sports Institute notes that carbohydrate needs change with exercise duration and intensity. I want to know how much carbohydrate is in the portion I take on a longer training run, rather than guessing from a handful.
Eating on the move Compare a portion you prepare from a larger bag with a small individual pack. Try the fruit’s texture, packaging and portion during training. Can I carry, open and comfortably eat this particular fruit while running? British Cycling notes that tolerance is individual.
Organic label and ingredients Check that the exact item is labelled organic. Read its ingredients and allergen panel, including any sulphite or precautionary statements; check the received pack again before eating. Organic status matters to me, but I also need to know what is in this particular pack.
Pack size Compare pack weight and, for similar fruits, the displayed price per kilogram. Check the storage and best-before information if you plan to divide a larger bag across several sessions. For repeated training, I would rather portion fruit at home unless an individual pack makes a run easier to manage.

What can be easy to overlook?

  • Treating “organic” as a fuelling measure

    Organic labelling does not tell you the carbohydrate in your portion or whether you will find the fruit comfortable to eat while running.

    Check the nutrition panel and test the portion in training separately from checking its organic label.

  • Saving the first taste for an event

    An unfamiliar solid food may be awkward to carry or eat during a run. British Cycling notes that what people tolerate during endurance activity varies.

    Practise with the exact fruit, portion and packaging on training runs.

  • Assuming dried-fruit allergen labels are alike

    The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as an ingredient used in some dried fruit. Mixed products can also carry precautionary nut information, as an ASDA product listing illustrates.

    Read the ingredients and allergen declarations on each exact pack, including when you switch fruit or brand.

  • Choosing a small pack without checking its label

    An individual pack may be easier to carry, but its format alone does not establish that its contents are organic.

    Check the organic wording on that product and compare its pack weight with a larger option if you will use it regularly.

Which brands offer useful points of comparison?

Tesco Organic

A supermarket own-label option for comparing a 375 g organic raisin pack.

  • Tesco lists Organic Raisins 375 g as grown to organic standards.
  • Check the received pack’s ingredients and nutrition information before portioning it for a run.

Sainsbury’s SO Organic

A 500 g organic raisin pack to consider when preparing portions for several sessions.

  • Sainsbury’s lists SO Organic Raisins in a 500 g pack.
  • Sainsbury’s warns that ingredients can change, so read the received pack before eating.

M&S

Another organic raisin option, listed by Ocado in a 375 g pack.

  • Ocado’s listing identifies M&S Organic Raisins and the 375 g pack weight.
  • The organic name and pack size do not establish how suitable a portion will feel during a run.

Whitworths

A reference for comparing individual raisin portions with fruit divided from a larger bag.

  • ASDA lists Whitworths Sunny Raisin as eight 14 g portions.
  • Check the specific snack pack for organic labelling if that is a requirement.

ASDA

A comparison point for conventional raisins and mixed dried fruit.

  • ASDA’s Seedless Raisins 500 g label lists 22 g carbohydrate, including 21 g sugars, per 30 g portion.
  • Do not assume that product is organic. ASDA’s Raisins, Berries & Cherries listing declares sulphites and precautionary nut and peanut information.

Joybuy raisin snack option

This individually portioned raisin snack is relevant if you want to practise carrying fruit on a training run. Check its pack if organic labelling matters to you.

Organix Goodies Raisins 12+ Months, 12 x 14g

Organix Goodies Raisins 12+ Months, 12 x 14g

The twelve 14 g portions offer a small-pack format to try carrying on a training run. This product is marketed for ages 12+ months; check the exact pack’s organic wording, ingredients, nutrition and allergen information when deciding whether it meets your needs.

View on Joybuy

Questions about dried fruit for training

Can I take dried fruit on a marathon-training run?

Dried fruit can provide carbohydrate, but try the exact fruit, portion and timing during training before planning to eat it at an event. The UK Sports Institute notes that carbohydrate needs change with exercise duration and intensity, while British Cycling notes that tolerance for food during endurance activity is individual.

Does organic dried fruit work differently as running fuel?

An organic label is not a measure of carbohydrate per portion or of how comfortably you can eat the fruit while running. GOV.UK sets out rules for organic food labelling; use the product’s nutrition panel and your training experience to answer those separate questions.

Should I buy raisins or another dried fruit?

Choose a fruit whose ingredients, portion and texture you can check and practise with during a run. Raisins are available in larger and individual packs, while other fruits and mixes may have different ingredients or allergen statements; read the exact label rather than assuming they are interchangeable.

Should I check dried fruit for sulphites?

Yes, check the exact pack’s ingredients and allergen information if sulphites are relevant to you. The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphur dioxide and sulphites as ingredients used in some dried fruit, including raisins and dried apricots; an ASDA mixed-fruit listing declares sulphites.

Is a retailer’s ingredient list enough to choose a pack?

Use the listing to compare products, then read the pack you receive before eating it. Sainsbury’s warns that product ingredients can change and advises shoppers to check the label.