If reduced fat content is a firm requirement, choose only almonds with a substantiated reduced-fat claim; unsalted or made without added fat does not automatically mean lower total fat. If your main concern is deciding how much to serve each guest, you can weigh out regular almonds, but that won’t change the fat content per 100 g. For conference catering, also base your choice on the ingredients, allergen information, portions and packaging.
Before choosing a product or describing it in your catering information, you need to distinguish between genuinely reduced fat, low fat and simply no added fat. The European Commission explains nutrition claims, while Duyvis describes how its product is prepared.
You need product-specific allergen information that you can record accurately and share with conference guests. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority provides information about allergens in non-prepacked food.
You want to plan portions, the number of packs needed and leftovers without presenting regular almonds as reduced fat. The net weight and storage instructions can help.
First decide whether you need a substantiated reduced-fat claim. If not, choose based on portion planning or how the almonds are prepared.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Substantiated fat reduction | Check the exact claim, the nutrition information per 100 g and the evidence supporting the comparison. Don’t infer a reduced-fat claim simply because the figure is lower than that of another product chosen at random. | If I want to make lower fat a product requirement or mention it in the catering information, the claim itself must be substantiated; around 39% of consumers say proven fat reduction is their top purchase priority. |
| Allergen information | Keep a record of the current label, specify almonds and include any warnings about other allergens in your information process. | When I serve almonds to guests, I want to know what allergen information I need to communicate for each product; around 23% of consumers give allergen management top priority. |
| Portions and leftovers | Use the net weight and your chosen portion size to calculate how much to order. Follow the product instructions after opening and work in line with your food safety plan. | When I’m planning several snack breaks, I want to manage the quantities needed and any leftovers; around 23% of consumers put portion and purchasing planning first. |
| Savoury preparation | Read the preparation description, ingredients and salt content together. No added fat, on its own, says nothing about the total fat content. | When I’m looking for a savoury, roasted snack with no added oil, I need to distinguish that preparation method from fat reduction; around 15% of consumers say this is their main consideration. |
A description of how a product is prepared doesn’t tell you how much total fat the finished product contains. Albert Heijn’s product page lists 50 g of fat per 100 g for Duyvis Oven Roasted Almonds.
Check the nutrition information per 100 g and keep it separate from the claim about how the product is prepared.
The ingredients list for Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g includes sunflower oil alongside 99% almonds.
Check the ingredients list if you want to avoid added oil.
Ordering more than you need can lead to unused products, while portioning also requires preparation. A 2024 publication by Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling describes food waste at meeting lunches and office drinks, based on self-reports from eight caterers and research by Wageningen University & Research. The research is not specifically about almonds.
Plan the quantity for each break and manage unopened stock and served leftovers separately in line with your food safety plan.
Almonds Original is a savoury, oven-roasted variety sold in a 125 g pack.
AH Unsalted Almonds are a roasted variety sold in a 190 g pack.
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds are a roasted own-brand variety sold in a 140 g pack.
PLUS Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds are a raw variety sold in a 200 g pack.
The product pages describe unsalted and unroasted almonds.
The product description is for Trader Joe’s unroasted almonds in a 200 g pack.
For solid foods, the European Commission sets the limit for a ‘low fat’ claim at a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g. The AH, Jumbo, PLUS and Duyvis varieties examined list 50 to 60 g of fat per 100 g, so they do not meet this limit.
No. ‘No added fat’ describes how a product is prepared and does not prove that it has a reduced fat content. Duyvis describes Almonds Original as prepared without added oil or fat; Albert Heijn lists 50 g of total fat per 100 g for the retail version.
Multiply the figure per 100 g by 0.25. Based on the published label values, this works out at 13.25 g of fat and 156.75 kcal for AH Unsalted Almonds, and 12.5 g of fat and 147.75 kcal for the PLUS variety examined. These calculations are based on label values; 25 g is not a mandatory catering portion.
Specify almonds and make sure guests can check the information before taking the product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information for non-prepacked food can be provided in writing, for example on cards or a menu. Verbal information may be given under certain conditions, including a clearly visible signpost and written or electronic access to the information for staff and inspectors.
Follow the current storage instructions on the packaging and your food safety plan; these do not set a general storage period for leftovers that have been served. Albert Heijn advises storing the almonds in a cool, dark and dry place and closing the pack tightly. For an opened bag, Duyvis recommends an airtight, light-proof container.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, businesses that prepare, process or sell food must work with an HACCP food safety plan. Following an applicable approved hygiene code can be one way to meet this requirement.
