Unsalted almonds could be an option for an after-school snack if they suit your child and are allowed where they’ll be eating. If you’re specifically looking for less fat, don’t rely on terms such as ‘unsalted’ or ‘made without added fat’ alone. According to the European Commission, ‘low fat’ for solid foods means no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g, while a reduced-fat claim requires a comparison with a similar product.
You’re looking for almonds with less fat and want to distinguish between a nutrition claim, unsalted almonds and a product made without added cooking fat. The European Commission sets out the conditions for nutrition claims about fat.
You want to have a snack ready for after school and might be looking at unsalted nuts, the ingredients and an amount you can portion yourself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists unsalted nuts as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12.
Allergies, whole nuts and the rules at school or an after-school club can all determine whether almonds are suitable for this snack occasion. Check the policy at the relevant venue and follow individual medical advice if your child has a known allergy.
First decide whether you’re mainly looking for a substantiated fat claim, an unsalted snack, something suitable for your child or easy portioning. Then compare the product information that’s relevant to your needs.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrably lower fat | Check the exact claim, the reference product used for comparison and the nutrition information on the same basis. ‘Made without added fat’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you the total fat content. | If I’m mainly looking for less total fat, I want to know exactly what the claim means and what the product is being compared with. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a demonstrable reduction in fat. |
| Ingredients for a snack occasion | Read the ingredients and check the salt content per 100 g. Unsalted doesn’t mean low fat. | For a regular snack, I’d rather check the ingredients and salt content than rely on the preparation description alone. Around 27% of consumers give a suitable everyday snack choice top priority. |
| Suitability and where it will be eaten | Check the allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination. Ask whether nuts are allowed at school or at the after-school club. | If allergies, eating ability or venue policies are a factor, I check these requirements before choosing a pack. Around 27% of consumers prioritise safety and the rules at the place where the snack will be eaten. |
| Portioning and storage | Check the pack size, portion information and storage instructions. A suggested portion isn’t automatically right for every child. | When I’m getting a snack ready quickly after school, I look at how easy the contents are to portion and store. Around 13% of consumers give practical portioning top priority. |
For the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of 3 g of fat per 100 g. ‘Reduced fat’ is a relative claim: Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 requires at least a 30% reduction in nutrient content compared with a similar product; EUR-Lex lists the consolidated version dated 13 December 2014. So a relative reduction doesn’t automatically mean that a product is also ‘low fat’.
A description of how a product is made doesn’t tell you how much fat it contains in total. Duyvis describes Almonds Original as oven-roasted almonds made without added oil or fat, but that doesn’t prove the product has a reduced total fat content.
Check the nutrition information and the exact claim separately. Don’t treat the preparation method as a substitute for comparing total fat content.
Product information from Jumbo and PLUS lists sunflower oil in the unsalted varieties reviewed. Unsalted describes the salt content, not the total fat or whether added oil is present.
Read both the ingredients list and the nutrition information. First decide whether you’re looking for less salt, no added oil or a substantiated reduction in fat.
Almonds are still nuts, whether they’re roasted or chopped. Schools may also have their own rules: OBS De Venen, for example, states that peanuts and nuts are not allowed at that school. This example doesn’t automatically apply to other venues.
Before buying, check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings on the exact pack. Ask the school or after-school club what policy applies.
Portion information on a pack is product information, not individual advice on the right amount for a child.
Use the same quantity when comparing nutrition information, and plan the snack in line with appropriate dietary guidance.
Duyvis describes Almonds Original as savoury oven-roasted almonds in a 125 g pack, made without added oil or fat.
Albert Heijn’s product information describes AH Unsalted Almonds in a 190 g pack.
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds is a roasted variety in a 140 g pack.
PLUS Unsalted Almonds is a roasted own-brand variety in a 150 g pack.
ALDI’s product page describes unroasted, untreated TRADER JOE’S almonds in a 200 g pack.
Lidl’s Dutch product page lists Unsalted Almonds as a relevant product variety.
These Joybuy almond options are intended for snacking and have simple ingredient lists. The nutrition values shown don’t make them low-fat alternatives.
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The product description presents these as raw almonds for snacking, with almonds as the only ingredient.
According to the product information on Joybuy: 50 g of fat and 0,03 g of salt per 100 g.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a nut-free venue.
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The product description says these almonds are ready to eat and lists 100% almonds as the ingredient.
According to the product information on Joybuy: 50 g of fat and 0,00 g of salt per 100 g.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a nut-free venue.
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The product description says these almond kernels are ready to eat and lists 100% almond kernels as the ingredient.
According to the product information on Joybuy: 53,8 g of fat and 0,028 g of salt per 100 g.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a nut-free venue.
No. According to the European Commission, ‘low fat’ for solid foods means no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 requires a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product for a reduced-fat claim; EUR-Lex lists the consolidated version dated 13 December 2014. So a product can contain relatively less fat without meeting the ‘low fat’ threshold.
First compare the same quantity, for example per 100 g, then look at the portion you want to prepare. Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion, while Jumbo gives values per 100 g and per 25 g. This portion information isn’t automatically individual dietary advice for every child.
Amsterdam UMC advises giving children under 4 nut butter without added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts, because of the risk of choking. Older children can choke too: make sure they eat calmly at the table and stay with them when they’re eating whole nuts. This is safety advice, not a legal age limit.
No. Don’t treat them as allergen-free: almonds are still a nut product. Stichting Voedselallergie explains that the allergen remains stable when heated. If you have a known allergy, follow individual medical advice and read the information on the exact pack.
According to the NVWA, any relevant allergens must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list. Also read any cross-contamination warnings on the pack. Product information for almond products may also mention other potential allergens.
