People who avoid gluten
You’re looking for an almond snack with a verifiable gluten-free claim, and you can eat almonds. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises checking the label of the exact product variety.
Who is this guide for?
People who avoid milk or lactose
You’re looking for a snack that suits your dietary needs. A milk allergy concerns milk protein, while lactose intolerance concerns lactose; Stichting Voedselallergie and Thuisarts.nl explain the difference.
People with a food allergy
You want to know which allergens are in a snack and how it’s served before ordering. Almonds are a tree nut allergen; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority advises that consumers should be able to check allergen information before buying.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide which ingredient or allergen you want to avoid. Then check the exact packaging, and ask for allergen information if you’re ordering an unpackaged bowl.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific food allergy | Check the ingredients and any warning about possible cross-contamination on the exact packaging. Ask about this for an unpackaged bowl, too. | If I have a food allergy, I want to know whether my allergen may be present before I order. Around 25% of consumers prioritise avoiding a specific allergen. |
| Gluten-free | Check for a gluten-free claim or relevant certification, as well as the allergen information for your chosen variety. | If I need to avoid gluten but can eat almonds, I look for a suitable claim on the packaging. Around 25% of consumers give choosing gluten-free products their top priority. |
| Milk or lactose | Work out whether you need to avoid lactose or milk protein, then check the relevant product information. | If I avoid milk or lactose, I don’t want to rely on an incorrect dietary claim. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Check the pack size, whether it can be resealed and the storage advice. Ask about allergen information when it’s served, too. | For a day on the terrace, I want to know whether the packaging is practical to take with me and how to store any leftovers. Around 25% of consumers put practical use first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘free from’ means suitable for every allergy
A product may be labelled gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan and still contain almonds or carry a warning about other nuts.
Check exactly what the claim refers to, and read the ingredients and warnings for the variety you’ve chosen.
-
Confusing unsalted or no added oil with allergen-free
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds contain almonds and may contain peanuts. Duyvis Oven Roasted Almonds may also contain wheat and cereals containing gluten.
Check the preparation method, ingredients and allergen information separately.
-
Taking a vegan or lactose-free claim as proof that a product is suitable for a milk allergy
A milk allergy concerns milk protein; lactose intolerance concerns lactose. So one claim doesn’t automatically answer the other question.
If you have a milk allergy, check the ingredients and warnings for milk specifically.
-
Ordering a bowl of loose nuts without checking allergen information
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be available before purchase, including for unpackaged food.
Before ordering, ask which snack is being served and have the relevant information checked.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
The unsalted and oven-roasted almond varieties offer different ways to enjoy a snack with drinks.
- Duyvis Unsalted Almonds lists almonds and sunflower oil; the oven-roasted variety is another option for serving with drinks.
- The unsalted variety may contain peanuts and various nuts. Wheat and cereals containing gluten are also listed for the oven-roasted variety.
Albert Heijn
AH Unsalted Almonds 190 g is worth considering if you’re looking for an explicit gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan claim.
- Albert Heijn lists almonds as an ingredient for this variety and includes all three of these claims.
- The product contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts; these claims apply to this variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g is an unsalted, roasted variety.
- The ingredients list states 99% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The product contains almonds and may contain peanuts; unsalted does not mean allergen-free.
Lidl
The Alesto listing found is for Spanish almonds in different 200 g varieties.
- The product description gives the product type and pack size.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety; a general brand description doesn’t tell you which allergens it contains.
ALDI
ALDI lists unroasted Trader Joe’s almonds as well as separate roasted varieties.
- The unroasted variety is described as untreated and packed in a resealable bag.
- Information about preparation and packaging isn’t a declaration that the product is allergen-free; check the label of the variety you’ve chosen.
PLUS
PLUS Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds 200 g is a variety with almonds as its only ingredient.
- PLUS labels this variety as vegan.
- The product contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts; vegan doesn’t mean it’s suitable for every food allergy.
Almond snacks at Joybuy
These products are for anyone looking for an almond snack that’s ready to eat.
No image available
Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels 160 g
The product description calls this a ready-to-eat snack made with 100% almond kernels. It contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
No image available
g'woon almonds, raw and unsalted, 200 g
The title describes raw, unsalted almonds, and the product description presents them as a snack. They contain almonds, so they aren’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
No image available
Anatolia Badem Natural (Almond) 500 gr
The product description calls this a ready-to-eat snack made with almonds as its only ingredient. It contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
Frequently asked questions
Are almonds an allergen-free snack?
No. Almonds are classified as a tree nut allergen, as Stichting Voedselallergie explains. A product may be labelled gluten-free, for example, and still contain almonds; avoid almond snacks if you need to avoid almonds.
Do lactose-free and dairy-free mean the same thing?
No. Lactose is milk sugar; a milk allergy concerns milk protein. Work out exactly what you need to avoid and check the relevant information on the packaging. A lactose-free claim is no substitute for checking specifically for milk.
Is a vegan claim enough if I have a food allergy?
No. PLUS labels its unroasted and unsalted almonds as vegan, but the product contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts. Check dietary claims and allergen information separately.
Can I ask for allergen information about a bowl of loose nuts on a terrace?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be available before purchase, including for unpackaged products. Ask which snack is being served and have the information checked before you order.
How should I store an opened pack?
Follow the advice for the variety you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Unsalted Almonds in a cool, dark and dry place, and closing the pack securely. For Duyvis Oven Roasted Almonds, the product information recommends storing an opened bag in a light-proof, airtight container.