You need to avoid almonds
If you have a diagnosed allergy that means you must avoid almonds, you’ll need to choose a different snack category. The Food Allergy Foundation advises checking the full ingredients list on every pack.
Who is this choice relevant to?
You avoid peanuts or other nuts
If you can eat almonds but avoid peanuts or certain other nuts, it’s important to check the warning for the specific variant as well as the ingredients list.
You’re looking for a specific free-from property
A claim such as gluten-free only answers that specific dietary question. Lactose-free also doesn’t mean free from milk protein; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy.
What should you look out for when choosing?
First check whether almonds themselves are suitable for your diet. Then check warnings for other allergens, followed by any specific dietary claims and how practical the product is to use.
| Concern | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds themselves | Check the full ingredients list and your own list of allergens to avoid. | If almonds aren’t safe for me, I rule out the whole category and look for a different type of snack. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding almonds when making this choice. |
| Cross-contamination warning | Check which allergens are specifically listed after ‘may contain’. | I can eat almonds but need to avoid peanuts or certain other nuts, for example, so I check the warning for the specific variant. Possible cross-contamination is the deciding factor for around 29% of consumers. |
| Specific dietary claim | Check that the claim meets your needs and read the other ingredients too. | If I can eat almonds but need a different specific property, such as gluten-free, I want to know exactly what that claim covers. Around 21% of consumers consider a specific free-from requirement their main concern. |
| Checking again and storage | Read every pack again and follow the storage instructions. | Once I’ve checked that the product suits my diet, I also look for a suitable pack size and instructions for storing it after opening. Everyday use is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming almonds are a generally allergen-free snack
Almonds are an allergen in their own right. A gluten-free or lactose-free claim doesn’t change the fact that the product contains almonds.
Start with your personal list of allergens to avoid. If almonds are on it, choose a different snack category.
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Reading only the ingredients list
Even a simple product made with almonds as its only ingredient may carry a warning about peanuts or other nuts.
As well as checking the ingredients, read the full cross-contamination warning and follow the advice you’ve been given about what to avoid.
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Confusing unsalted or dry-roasted with allergen-free
These preparation details don’t, by themselves, tell you anything about other ingredients or possible cross-contamination. Flavoured varieties may also contain additional ingredients.
Assess preparation claims separately from the ingredients list and allergen warnings.
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Assuming a previous check is proof that the product is still suitable
The recipe or product information may change, even if the brand or product name stays the same.
Check the ingredients list and warnings on every new pack before using the product.
Relevant brands and product ranges
Duyvis
The product range reviewed includes Duyvis Almonds Original and Oven roasted almonds.
- Duyvis describes its Oven roasted variety as oven-roasted without added oil or fat. The product information reviewed lists 97% almonds and a spice blend.
- The product information warns that it may contain peanuts and wheat; the ingredients description also mentions various types of nuts. This is not a general free-from claim.
Albert Heijn
AH Terra Unroasted Almonds is the plain variety reviewed, in a 500 g pack.
- The Dutch product page lists almonds as an ingredient and describes the variety as gluten-free and lactose-free.
- The product page also warns about peanuts and various other nuts. These dietary details are provided by the retailer and don’t mean the almonds are generally safe for people with allergies.
Jumbo
The own-brand variety reviewed is Unsalted Almonds in a 140 g pack.
- The product information lists 99% almonds.
- The ingredients also include sunflower oil, and the product page warns that it may contain peanuts. So ‘unsalted’ doesn’t mean that the product contains only almonds.
Lidl
Alesto is the relevant nut range. Lidl lists Spanish almonds in various varieties, including a 200 g pack.
- The range offers almonds as a snack option.
- Check the exact variety and its packaging. You can’t assume a free-from property based on the brand or product range alone.
Trader Joe's
ALDI Netherlands lists unroasted almonds in a 200 g pack.
- ALDI describes the almonds as untreated and the pack as resealable.
- Untreated and resealable don’t tell you whether other allergens are present; check the product packaging to make sure it suits your diet.
PLUS
The variety reviewed is Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds in a 200 g stand-up pouch.
- The product page lists almonds as the only ingredient and provides storage advice.
- The warning mentions peanuts and various other nuts. A short ingredients list doesn’t mean the product is free from these allergens.
Almond products on Joybuy
These Joybuy products are only an option if you can eat almonds. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, focusing on what’s relevant to your diet.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels, 160 g
The product description says these are 100% almond kernels and suggests enjoying them as a snack or adding them to baked goods, yoghurt, cereal and salad.
Contains almonds; not suitable if almonds are on your list of foods to avoid.
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g'woon Raw & Unsalted Almonds, 200 g
The name describes raw, unsalted almonds. The description lists almonds as an ingredient and recommends resealing the pack securely after opening.
Contains almonds; not suitable if almonds are on your list of foods to avoid.
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Bestore Milk-Flavoured Almonds with Sweetener, 500 g, tin
The description mentions almonds with a milky-flavoured seasoning and sweeteners; the product is intended as a snack.
Contains almonds and sweeteners. According to the product information, peanuts, soya, milk, sesame and gluten (wheat) are also handled at the same production site.
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Anatolia Badem Natural Almond, 500 g
The ingredients information lists 100% almonds. The description suggests enjoying them as a snack or adding them to baked goods, meals, salads, yoghurt and desserts.
Contains almonds; not suitable if almonds are on your list of foods to avoid.
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g'woon Roasted & Salted Almonds, 150 g
The product description lists 97% almonds, sunflower oil and salt; the pack is resealable.
Contains almonds and, according to the product information, may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Does allergen information have to appear on packaging?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), the 14 legally designated allergens must be listed in the ingredients list for prepacked foods. Allergen information for non-prepacked foods must also be available before purchase.
What does ‘may contain’ mean on packaging?
‘May contain’ is a precautionary warning about possible cross-contamination, not a list of ingredients. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has been enforcing the new rules on allergen warnings; for standard prepacked products, such a warning must be based on a risk assessment. The absence of a warning isn’t a general claim that a product is allergen-free.
Is lactose-free enough if I have a cow’s milk allergy?
No. Lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar, while cow’s milk allergy concerns milk proteins. If you have a cow’s milk allergy, check for milk ingredients and relevant warnings rather than relying on a lactose-free claim.
Should I keep checking a product I trust?
Yes. Check the full ingredients list and allergen warnings on every pack. The Food Allergy Foundation advises taking extra care if the packaging or recipe has changed.
What should I do if the packaging differs from the online information?
Don’t use the product as a suitable option while the discrepancy makes it difficult to check for allergens. Ask the retailer or manufacturer for clarification, and base your assessment on the information on the pack you actually have.