Dried fruit is delicious and often considered "healthy candy". However, few people realise that not only are dried apricots, bananas, apples and raisins loaded with calories, they can also cause allergies. Asthma patients in particular should be careful, because these sweet little fruits can cause itching, hives, runny nose and in the worst cases, even an allergic reaction. This is due to the fact that dried fruits are often preserved with sulfuric compounds (sulphites). Anyone who is unsure should stick to fresh fruit.