For first tastes, choose nut butter or ground almonds, and don’t give whole almonds to children under 4; this is the advice of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum). A ‘gluten-free’ or ‘lactose-free’ label doesn’t mean a product is free from almonds or other allergens. Check the ingredients and allergen information, and choose a texture that suits your child’s eating skills. If an allergy is known or suspected, discuss introducing almonds with a healthcare professional.
You want to know which forms of almond you can offer, and why independent eating isn’t a reason to give your baby a whole nut. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter or ground nuts; your baby’s eating skills are important when gradually introducing different textures.
For example, you’re looking for a product without lactose or gluten and want to distinguish that from almonds as an allergen and warnings about possible cross-contamination. The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation lists almonds among the nuts identified as allergens.
You’re comparing ingredients, the preparation required and storage instructions. In this context, whole almonds are an ingredient to be ground, not a ready-to-eat snack for babies; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends ground nuts or nut butter.
Choose this option: if you want to use almonds without grinding whole nuts yourself.
Bear in mind: the butter still contains almonds; check the texture and allergen information for the exact product too.
Choose this option: if you want to grind the almonds yourself and can manage that extra step.
Bear in mind: don’t give them whole to a child under 4; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends ground nuts or nut butter.
For first tastes: don’t choose these as a ready-to-eat snack for your baby.
Bear in mind: a claim that a product is roasted without added oil doesn’t mean it has no added salt or sugar.
Choose this option: if almonds need to be avoided, or if your child’s nursery or school doesn’t allow nuts.
Bear in mind: gluten-free, lactose-free or 100% almond doesn’t make a product suitable for someone with an almond allergy; follow the rules of the setting in question.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Safe form and eating skills | Check whether the product contains whole nuts and what preparation is needed. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4. | When I’m starting my baby on solid foods, I want to offer a form that suits their eating skills. Around 34% of consumers prioritise a safe form and eating skills. |
| Specific diet or allergen | Be clear about what you want to avoid, and check the ingredients, allergens and warnings about possible cross-contamination separately. | When I need to avoid a particular ingredient, I want to know whether the product also contains almonds or other relevant allergens. Around 33% of consumers prioritise dietary and allergen suitability. |
| Ingredients | Read the full ingredients list. Check added salt, sugar and oil as separate characteristics. | When I’m comparing ingredients for first tastes, I want to know exactly what has been added. Around 20% of consumers focus mainly on simple ingredients. |
| Preparation and storage | Check how the exact product needs to be prepared, its pack weight and its storage instructions. | When I’m preparing baby food myself, I want to know what steps are involved and how it should be stored. Around 13% of consumers focus mainly on practical preparation and storage. |
A product can be gluten-free or lactose-free and still contain almonds. The AH butter we looked at may also contain peanuts and other tree nuts.
Be specific about which ingredient you want to avoid, and check the ingredients and allergen warnings separately. Don’t treat a specific dietary claim as a general allergen-free claim.
‘Unsalted’ tells you nothing about the form or choking risk of a whole nut. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4.
In this context, use whole almonds only as an ingredient to be ground, and grind them before offering them. This takes extra preparation.
According to the product information, the Duyvis variety we looked at is roasted without added oil or fat, but its seasoning mix contains salt and sugar ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against products with added salt as a first food.
Read the full ingredients list and assess oil, salt and sugar separately.
The AH Terra Plantaardig 100% pasta amandel we looked at is an almond butter. The product page describes it as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan.
According to the retailer’s website, PLUS Amandelen ongebrand en ongezouten is a product to be ground, with almonds as its ingredient.
The Jumbo Ongezouten Amandelen we looked at are only relevant as an ingredient to be prepared before offering.
The Duyvis Oven roasted almonds we looked at are a savoury snack, not intended as a ready-to-eat snack for first tastes.
The Dutch ALDI website shows TRADER JOE'S Amandelen 200 g; ALDI is the retailer and TRADER JOE'S is the product name shown.
Lidl has a Dutch product page for unsalted almonds and a separate page for 200 g almonds.
These Joybuy product options are almonds for use in recipes; only offer babies nut butter or ground nuts, never whole nuts.
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Only use almonds for baby food in an appropriately prepared form; don’t offer whole nuts.
The product name states that these are raw, unsalted almonds and gives the pack size as 200 g.
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Only use almonds for baby food as nut butter or ground nuts; don’t give whole nuts.
The product name states that these are almonds and gives the pack size as 500 gr.
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The product information describes this as whole almond kernels; grind them before offering them to a baby.
The product name gives the pack size as 160 g.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4, recommending nut butter or ground nuts instead. Eating independently doesn’t change this advice.
No. Gluten-free and lactose-free are separate product characteristics. The AH butter we looked at contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other tree nuts. The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation lists almonds as an allergen.
Your child should be able to sit upright and swallow and chew well. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises starting with mashed food and gradually making the texture coarser. Wait before offering larger pieces if your child has difficulty chewing or swallowing, and stay with them while they eat.
Follow the instructions on the packaging. The AH Terra Plantaardig 100% pasta amandel says to stir before use and refrigerate after purchase at a maximum of 7°C. According to their product pages, the PLUS and Jumbo almonds we looked at should be stored in a cool, dark place.
This kind of warning refers to possible accidental presence, not an ingredient that has been deliberately added. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), the Dutch policy on precautionary allergen labelling has applied since 1 January 2026. After taking preventive measures and carrying out a risk assessment, manufacturers decide whether a warning is needed. The NVWA says that safely packaged stock from before that date may still be sold until it runs out.
