Avoiding a specific allergen
You want to know whether almonds themselves and any cross-contamination warnings fit your diet. Stichting Voedselallergie lists almonds as an allergen; the NVWA explains how allergens are shown on food labels.
Who is this guide for?
Looking for a gluten-free or lactose-free claim
You can eat almonds but are looking for a claim that meets your specific dietary needs. A gluten-free or lactose-free claim does not mean the product is free from almonds or other allergens.
Topping up your snack cupboard
You want to choose a pack that suits how you use almonds, while also considering the ingredients and how to store them once opened. ALDI states that its Dutch unroasted almonds come in a resealable pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a small top-up, a practical order is to first check whether almonds themselves are suitable for you, then look at the specific claim and warnings, and finally consider the flavour and packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds and cross-contamination | Check whether almonds are listed as an ingredient, and read any warnings about allergens that are relevant to you. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I first want to know whether almonds themselves or a warning are relevant. Around 33% of consumers give avoiding allergens top priority. |
| Specific free-from claim | Look for the claim on the exact variety. Consider gluten and lactose separately, and don’t confuse lactose-free with suitability for a cow’s milk allergy. | If I can eat almonds but need to avoid gluten or lactose, I look for that specific claim. Around 27% of consumers give this type of claim top priority. |
| Ingredients and flavour | Compare the ingredients and preparation method on the pack; unsalted or organic is not a general free-from claim. | If almonds fit my diet, I then want to know whether a simple, unsalted variety suits my preferences. Around 20% of consumers put ingredients and being unsalted first. |
| Quantity and storage | Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. | For a small top-up, I want an amount I can store and use appropriately. Around 20% of consumers give a practical pack size top priority. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming ‘free from’ means free from all allergens
Almonds are an allergen in their own right. So a gluten-free or lactose-free claim does not make almonds suitable if you have an almond allergy.
First work out which ingredient you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and relevant warnings on the pack separately.
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Assuming varieties from the same brand have the same ingredients
Duyvis lists almonds and sunflower oil for Unsalted Almonds; for Almonds Original, the manufacturer lists savoury flavourings and a wheat warning.
Check the full variety name, ingredients and warnings every time you buy.
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Assuming organic or a short ingredients list rules out cross-contamination
Jumbo Biologisch Ongebrande Amandelen lists almonds as an ingredient, while the product information also warns about sesame, peanuts and other nuts, among other things.
Check the ingredients and warnings separately; organic does not mean cross-contamination has been ruled out.
Brands and varieties compared
Duyvis
The product information describes separate varieties, including Unsalted Almonds and Almonds Original.
- For Unsalted Almonds, Duyvis lists almonds and sunflower oil; the pack shown is 125 g.
- For Almonds Original, the manufacturer lists savoury flavourings and a wheat warning. Compare the ingredients of the exact variety.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand varieties described include unsalted roasted almonds and unsalted blanched almonds.
- The product pages for AH Amandelen ongezouten and AH Geblancheerde amandelen ongezouten state that they are gluten-free and lactose-free.
- For the blanched variety, the product information lists peanuts and other nuts as possible cross-contamination allergens. Check the pack for warnings that matter to you.
Jumbo
Jumbo Biologisch Ongebrande Amandelen is a variety for anyone who wants to consider the ingredients list.
- The product information lists almonds of organic origin as an ingredient.
- The product information also warns about sesame, peanuts and other nuts, among other things. Organic is not a free-from claim.
Lidl
The Dutch product listing is for Amandelen ongezouten.
- The name helps you identify the unsalted variety.
- Unsalted does not tell you whether a specific allergen is absent. Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands lists unroasted almonds from TRADER JOE'S.
- The product listing gives a pack size of 200 g and says the pack is resealable.
- Unroasted or untreated does not prove that a product is allergen-free. Check the ingredients and warnings on the product you buy.
PLUS
The PLUS variety reviewed is unsalted and listed in a 150 g stand-up pouch.
- The product information lists 98% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The product information warns about peanuts and several other nuts. Unsalted does not mean free from these allergens.
Almonds at Joybuy
A selection of Joybuy almonds for topping up your snack cupboard. Check that the ingredients and warnings for the exact variety suit your diet.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels, 160 g
A good fit if you’re looking for a small snack supply with simple ingredients, provided almonds suit your diet.
The product description states that it contains 100% almond kernels and comes in a 160 g pack. Contains almonds and is not suitable if you have an almond allergy.
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g’woon Almonds Raw & Unsalted, 200 g
A good fit if you’re looking for a raw, unsalted snack variety, provided almonds suit your diet.
The product title states that these are raw, unsalted almonds and gives a pack size of 200 g; the product description lists almonds as an ingredient. Unsalted is not a free-from claim.
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Anatolia Badem Natural (Amandel), 500 g
A good fit if you’re deliberately looking for a larger supply of almonds and can include them in your diet.
The product description lists almonds as the only ingredient; the pack contains 500 g. Contains almonds and is not suitable if you have an almond allergy.
Frequently asked questions
Does roasting make almonds suitable if you have an almond allergy?
No. Stichting Voedselallergie states that the nut allergen remains stable when heated, so roasting does not make almonds suitable if you have an almond allergy.
Does lactose-free mean suitable if you have a cow’s milk allergy?
No. Lactose is milk sugar, whereas a cow’s milk allergy is related to milk proteins. HagaZiekenhuis explains this distinction; if you have a cow’s milk allergy, check milk ingredients and relevant warnings separately.
Does ‘gluten-free’ mean a product is allergen-free?
No. The European Commission explains that the conditions for claims such as ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’ are set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014. Such a claim relates to gluten; it does not mean that almonds or all other allergens are absent.
What does ‘may contain’ mean on a pack?
It is a precautionary warning about the possible unintended presence of an allergen, not the same as an intentionally added ingredient. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has monitored risk-based precautionary warnings; according to the NVWA, such a warning must not be used if the relevant reference values cannot be exceeded.
Are whole almonds automatically suitable as a snack for young children?
No. The product pages from Albert Heijn and PLUS warn that young children may choke. So consider the form of the snack as well as the warning on the exact pack.