Shoppers with specific dietary needs
You’re looking for almonds with suitable information for needs such as avoiding gluten or lactose, or choosing plant-based ingredients. Also check whether almonds themselves fit your diet.
Who is this guide for?
Hosts serving a mixed spread
You’re serving snacks to guests with different dietary needs and want to avoid giving the impression that a bowl is suitable for everyone. Both the packaging and how you serve the snacks deserve attention.
Fans of simple or savoury snacks
You’re comparing unsalted almonds with savoury seasoned varieties and want to distinguish the ingredients and preparation method from an allergen claim.
What should you look for when buying?
Start with the ingredient someone needs to avoid. If almonds themselves are unsuitable, an almond snack is out; for other dietary needs, the information on the exact variety should match.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who needs to know? |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds and allergens | Check the ingredients and warnings for the possible presence of peanuts or other nuts. Almonds themselves are a tree nut allergen (Voedingscentrum). | If you need to avoid almonds or another specific allergen, first check whether almonds are suitable at all. Around 26% of consumers prioritise avoiding a specific allergen. |
| Gluten | Look for a gluten-free statement on the exact packaging, and read the ingredients and warnings. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for such a statement or a suitable certification mark. | If you avoid gluten and can eat almonds, choose a variety whose label information meets your needs. Around 26% of consumers give avoiding gluten top priority. |
| Lactose or plant-based | Check whether you need to avoid lactose, milk protein or animal-derived ingredients. Lactose-free and vegan do not mean the same thing. | If you avoid lactose or eat a plant-based diet, the right specific information can help you choose. Around 21% of consumers prioritise avoiding lactose or eating plant-based. |
| Salt and flavour | Read the ingredients and nutritional information to see whether salt, oil or flavourings have been added. | If you want a simple, unsalted snack or prefer a savoury flavour, the ingredients make all the difference. Around 11% of consumers prioritise flavour and salt content. |
| Serving and storage | Check the packaging closure and storage instructions. When catering for different dietary needs, use a separate, clean bowl. | When serving a selection of snacks, you’ll want to be able to store and serve them neatly. Around 16% of consumers prioritise practical serving and storage. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘free from’ means free from all allergens
A statement about gluten or lactose, for example, does not remove the almond allergen. It only tells you about that particular property of the product variety.
Choose according to the ingredient your guest needs to avoid, and read the warnings on the packaging too.
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Confusing oven-roasting without oil with being unsalted or gluten-free
Duyvis describes its preparation method as using no added oil or fat. The information consulted for the Oven roasted variety also lists salt in the seasoning mix and includes a warning about wheat.
Assess the preparation method, ingredients and allergen information separately. Don’t rely on one preparation claim to answer a different dietary question.
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Pouring a suitable product into a shared bowl
Crumbs from other products can get onto the almonds during preparation or serving. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights cross-contamination from crumbs as something to watch out for.
Serve the snack in a separate, clean bowl and keep the packaging handy so guests can check the information for themselves.
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Relying only on an online product feature
Product information can change, and a statement applies only to the specific variety it refers to.
Use product information to help you make a choice, then check the label on the packaging you’ve bought before serving.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
The AH Unsalted Almonds variety reviewed has several explicit dietary statements.
- The product page states that it is gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan.
- The variety warns that it may contain peanuts and other nuts; these statements do not automatically apply to other products.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g is an unsalted variety with published ingredient information.
- The ingredients list states 99% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The product information warns that it may contain peanuts. Unsalted is not an allergen claim.
PLUS
PLUS Unsalted Almonds 150 g is an option if you’re looking for an unsalted, vegan variety.
- The product page states that it is vegan and lists 98% almonds with sunflower oil.
- The page warns that it may contain peanuts and several other nuts.
Duyvis
Almonds Original and Oven roasted offer a savoury, roasted almond option.
- Duyvis describes its roasting method as using no added oil or fat.
- The Dutch product information consulted for Oven roasted warns that it may contain wheat, peanuts and other nuts. The manufacturer’s description is not an allergen claim.
Lidl
Lidl lists Alesto unsalted almonds and Spanish almonds as product types.
- The product pages confirm that these product types are listed.
- A product name or country-of-origin description alone does not tell you whether a variety meets a specific dietary need.
ALDI
The Trader Joe’s varieties described include unroasted almonds and roasted varieties with salt or smoke flavour.
- The unroasted variety is described as coming in a resealable 200 g pack.
- A flavour variety or type of packaging doesn’t guarantee anything about allergens or gluten. Check the information on the exact packaging.
Almond products at Joybuy
This selection includes plain almonds and varieties described as unsalted or roasted and salted. Check the ingredients and packaging information for each product. None of these products is suitable if almonds themselves need to be avoided.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels 160 g
The product description says these are 100% almond kernels that can be eaten as a snack.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a diet that requires you to avoid them.
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g'woon Almonds Raw & Unsalted 200 g
The product title describes this variety as raw and unsalted, which may suit you if those are the qualities you’re looking for.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a diet that requires you to avoid them. Check the packaging for the dietary and allergen information that’s relevant to you.
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Anatolia Roasted Salted Almonds 500 g
The product title describes roasted, salted almonds. Check the ingredients and nutritional information if salt content matters to you.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a diet that requires you to avoid them.
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Anatolia Badem Natural (Almonds) 500 g
The product description says these are 100% natural almonds with no added salt. This may be relevant if you’re looking for a variety with no added salt.
Contains almonds, so it isn’t suitable for a diet that requires you to avoid them.
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g'woon Roasted & Salted Almonds 150 g
The product description says these are roasted almonds with salt in a resealable pack.
The stated ingredients are 97% almonds, sunflower oil and salt. The product contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I serve almonds as an allergen-free snack?
Not as a generally allergen-free snack: almonds are a tree nut allergen. Only describe the specific dietary properties stated on the packaging, and check separately whether they meet your guest’s needs.
Is a gluten-free statement enough to choose a variety?
A gluten-free statement on the exact variety is an important guide, but also check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging. When reading labels, the Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for a gluten-free statement or a suitable certification mark.
Can a lactose-free snack also be suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
Not on the basis of a lactose-free statement alone. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar; a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, check the ingredients and relevant warnings separately (Voedingscentrum).
How should I serve almonds alongside other party snacks?
Serve them in a separate, clean bowl and avoid contact with crumbs or used serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that crumbs in the kitchen can contaminate a gluten-free product.
How should I store an opened bag of almonds?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. The storage advice for the Jumbo Unsalted Almonds reviewed is to keep them somewhere cool and dark; Duyvis product information recommends storing them in a cool, dry place and sealing the pack securely after opening.