Start with colour
Colour depends on the grape and the drying. Dark dry grapes from black grapes are naturally brown to black. Golden ones are usually treated with sulphur dioxide before drying, which slows browning.
Sulphur dioxide is used in dried fruit to keep colour and to slow mould and yeast. So a very bright, even golden colour is a hint to check the label. It is not a fault by itself.
Check texture and shape
Good dry grapes look plump for their type and feel soft to slightly firm, not rock hard. Sangli raisins, for example, are described as uniform and round with thin skin.
Look at the pack for these points:
- Stems and cap-stems: the raisin standard sets limits on stem pieces per kilogram, so a few are normal, but a lot is not.
- Immature or shrivelled fruit: the standard allows only a small share by weight.
- Sugar crystals: the standard allows up to 15 per cent sugared raisins. A few are normal; heavy crusting spoils texture.
- Damp or sticky clumps: this suggests extra moisture.
Smell
Open a sample if you can. A clean, fruity smell is right. Sour, musty or fermented smells are not.
Read the label
The Food Safety and Standards labelling rules require these particulars on pre-packaged food:
- Product name that describes the food truly.
- FSSAI logo and licence number.
- Net quantity.
- Manufacturer's name and full address.
- Date marking, including a best before or expiry date.
- Nutrition information per 100 g.
- Additives, with the class name and the INS number or specific name.
Check the FSSAI number
An FSSAI licence number has 14 digits. You can check it on the FSSAI portal under the FBO search option. It shows the business name, the premises address, the licence type and whether it is active.
Do not rely only on the logo. Look at the number and verify it once.
Look for sulphur
If sulphur dioxide is used, it should appear as an additive on the label. Preservatives of this family carry numbers in the 220 to 228 range. If you wish to avoid sulphur, look for a pack that states no preservative, then confirm in the ingredients list.
Remember that a golden colour and a long shelf life are the usual signs of sulphur treatment. Naturally dried fruit is darker.
Dates and storage
The best before date tells you until when the product stays fully marketable under the stated storage conditions. It may still be safe afterwards, but quality can fall.
Check the packing date as well. Also check that the pack is sealed and has no pinholes, since insects can chew through thin packaging.
Ask the seller
- Which grape is this, and is it seeded?
- Is sulphur dioxide used?
- When was it packed?
- What is the FSSAI licence number?
A seller who is careful about quality will answer these without fuss. You can put the same questions to MM Rooted Ventures about its seeded dry grapes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if dry grapes contain sulphur?
Check the additives on the label. Sulphur dioxide is listed as a preservative with a number in the 220 to 228 range. Bright golden colour is another hint.
Are white crystals on dry grapes a problem?
No. They are crystals of natural grape sugar. Heavy crusting makes the texture unpleasant, though.
How can I check an FSSAI number?
Use the FBO search on the FSSAI portal and enter the 14-digit number. It shows the business name, address and status.
Sources
- Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020: compendium (FSSAI)
- FSSAI licence number: structure and verification
- Sulfur dioxide in dried fruit
- Codex Standard for Raisins (CXS 67-1981)
- Sangli raisins (Wikipedia)
- How to read dry fruit labels in India
- How to keep raisins fresh, moist and pest-free