Only serve almonds to guests who can eat them; ‘gluten-free’, ‘lactose-free’ and ‘vegan’ do not mean a product is free from allergens. For other dietary needs, check the ingredients, dietary claims and warnings on the exact pack. Unroasted, unsalted and roasted describe product characteristics, not safety certifications.
If you’re hosting a games night, check not only whether a snack contains ingredients your guests avoid, but also any warnings about possible cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label; the Food Allergy Foundation also lists almond as an allergen.
If you can eat almonds but avoid gluten, check the information for the exact variety. An ingredients list with no gluten-containing ingredients is not the same as an explicit gluten-free claim, as the Dutch Coeliac Society also explains.
If you’re looking for lactose-free or vegan almonds, check which claims actually apply to that variety. Lactose intolerance and milk allergy are not the same, so a lactose-free claim does not automatically tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
First, check whether almonds are suitable for everyone at the table. Then compare the dietary claims and warnings for the exact variety, and choose a pack that suits what you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Check whether almond is an ingredient and read the warnings on the exact pack. | If someone at the table needs to avoid almonds or other nuts, I want to know first whether the snack is suitable at all; around 36% of consumers make this allergen check their top priority. |
| Gluten information | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim and check the ingredients and warnings. | If I avoid gluten but can eat almonds, I want evidence for this exact variety rather than relying on the word ‘plain’; around 29% of consumers prioritise gluten information. |
| Lactose and animal ingredients | Distinguish between lactose-free, vegan and information about milk allergy. | If I avoid lactose or animal ingredients, I look for the claim that matches my needs; around 21% of consumers put these dietary characteristics first. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the net weight, resealability and storage instructions. | If I’m planning how much to serve and want to store any leftovers, I check the quantity and packaging; around 14% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
A gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan claim doesn’t change the fact that almond itself is an allergen. Warnings about other allergens may also be relevant.
Check which substance a claim refers to, and read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the pack separately.
Roasted unsalted varieties may contain sunflower oil. Preparation methods and ingredients vary by product.
Read the ingredients list and preparation method separately; don’t assume that ‘unsalted’ means a product is unroasted or oil-free.
The packs we looked at vary in size. Any leftovers need to be stored according to the instructions on the pack.
Choose an amount that suits your serving plan and reseal opened packs as directed on the label.
The Duyvis varieties we looked at show how unsalted almonds and savoury seasoned oven-roasted almonds can have different ingredients and warnings.
AH Unroasted Almonds 450 g is a specific variety with explicit dietary claims.
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g is a roasted variety made with sunflower oil.
Lidl sells unroasted almonds, among other products, as well as Alesto Spanish almonds in different varieties.
TRADER JOE’S Unroasted Almonds 200 g is a product sold by ALDI; the product name refers to TRADER JOE’S.
PLUS Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds 200 g is a variety with a short ingredients list.
This selection includes almonds with different ingredients, preparation methods and pack sizes. Always check whether the exact variety is suitable for everyone eating them.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat almond snack made with almond kernels; not suitable for guests who need to avoid almonds.
Joybuy product information lists 100% almond kernels and a net weight of 160 g.
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Suitable if you’re looking for unroasted, unsalted almonds; not suitable for guests who need to avoid almonds.
Joybuy product information lists almonds as an ingredient and advises resealing the pack securely after opening.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a roasted, salted almond snack; not suitable for guests who need to avoid almonds.
Joybuy product information lists almonds and salt as ingredients. It also warns that the product may pose a choking hazard to young children.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat almond variety with no added salt; not suitable for guests who need to avoid almonds.
Joybuy product information lists 100% natural almonds and 0.00 g of salt per 100 g.
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Suitable if you’re looking for roasted, salted almonds in a resealable bag; not suitable for guests who need to avoid almonds.
Joybuy product information lists 97% almonds, sunflower oil and salt. The pack is resealable and carries a warning that it may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
No. Lactose intolerance affects how the body digests milk sugar; a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. So a lactose-free claim doesn’t automatically tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
No. Roasting doesn’t make almonds suitable for someone who needs to avoid them. Don’t serve any almond variety to that guest.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. Albert Heijn advises storing AH Unroasted Almonds in a cool, dark, dry place and sealing the pack securely. For an opened bag of Duyvis Oven roasted almonds, the product information recommends an airtight, light-proof container.
Check the label on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label, so don’t rely only on the product name or a dietary claim on the front.
Since 1 January 2026, new rules on precautionary allergen labelling have applied in the Netherlands. The NVWA describes risk assessment as the basis and allows wording such as ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. These requirements apply to food businesses, not to someone hosting a private games night.
