You can offer almonds to colleagues who can eat them, but they are not a nut-free or generally allergen-free alternative to biscuits. Check the ingredients, allergen information and cross-contamination warning on the exact pack. If a snack is intended for someone with a specific dietary need, keep it separate from the biscuit tin too. The Food Allergy Foundation lists almonds as a tree nut allergen, while the Dutch Coeliac Society explains how crumbs can contaminate a gluten-free product.
If you buy snacks for a shared office space, assess the specific dietary need and the risk of cross-contamination separately. Almonds are a tree nut allergen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains why allergen information matters when offering food.
Choosing a product for a gluten-free diet means checking the information on the exact pack and taking care to avoid crumbs when serving it. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains how crumbs containing gluten can contaminate a gluten-free product.
For colleagues who can eat almonds, the preparation method, salt preference and packaging can all influence your choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a sealed, dry place. A product variant or its packaging does not, on its own, indicate whether it is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Choose this option: if almonds are suitable for the person eating them and you’re looking for an unsalted variety.
Keep in mind: these descriptions do not confirm that a product is gluten-free or free from other allergens.
Choose this option: if you’re looking for a roasted or savoury variety and the ingredients are suitable for those eating them.
Keep in mind: no added oil or fat does not automatically mean unsalted or allergen-free.
Choose this option: if a colleague needs to avoid almonds or the snack must be nut-free.
Keep in mind: any other snack should also be checked for specific ingredients and cross-contamination warnings.
When choosing snacks for a shared office, start by finding out which ingredient or allergen someone needs to avoid. The percentages below show the relative emphasis placed on purchasing priorities in these scenarios.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | Check the ingredients, allergen information and cross-contamination warning on the exact pack. | If I’m buying a snack for someone who needs to avoid a particular allergen, I want to know first whether this variety is suitable. Around 36% of consumers put allergen avoidance first. |
| Serving a gluten-free snack | Check the gluten-free information and keep the snack separate from biscuits containing gluten. | If I’m serving a snack separately for a colleague who avoids gluten, I want to prevent biscuit crumbs from coming into contact with it. Around 29% of consumers put serving gluten-free food first. |
| Choosing an unsalted option | Check whether the exact variety is unsalted; roasted or smoked flavour does not automatically mean unsalted. | For colleagues who can eat almonds, an unsalted variety may be just the everyday snack they want. Around 21% of consumers put choosing unsalted snacks first. |
| Sealing and storing | Check whether the pack is resealable, whether the quantity suits your needs and what storage instructions apply. | When I buy snacks for the office, I want packaging that suits how they’ll be used and the space available for storage. Around 14% of consumers put stock management first. |
Almonds are a tree nut allergen. A general claim or recommendation does not make an almond product suitable for someone who needs to avoid nuts.
Find out which ingredient or allergen the person needs to avoid, then check the information on the exact pack.
These descriptions relate to salt or preparation, not the absence of gluten or other allergens.
Use the description to choose the variety you want, then check the ingredients, allergens and warnings separately.
The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that crumbs containing gluten can contaminate a gluten-free product.
Keep the snack intended for a particular dietary need separate from biscuits, and make sure the product information remains available.
Duyvis offers, among other products, unsalted almonds and Almonds Original, which are oven-roasted without added oil or fat.
The almond range includes unroasted organic almonds and a salted smoked-flavour variety.
Jumbo lists a 140 g unsalted almond variety and advises storing it in a cool, dry, dark place.
Lidl lists Alesto Spanish almonds in different 200 g varieties.
Under the Trader Joe’s name, ALDI lists products including unroasted almonds and separate roasted flavour varieties.
PLUS lists a 200 g variety as unroasted and unsalted.
These Joybuy products are almond varieties for colleagues who can eat almonds, including unsalted, natural and roasted options.
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An option for colleagues who can eat almonds and are looking for a pack of snacks for the office.
The product description lists 160 g and 100% almond kernels as the ingredient.
Contains almonds, so it is not a nut-free option.
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An unsalted option for colleagues who can eat almonds.
The product title describes raw, unsalted almonds. The product description lists 200 g and recommends sealing the pack well after opening.
Contains almonds, so it is not a nut-free option.
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A roasted, salted variety for colleagues who can eat almonds and enjoy this flavour.
The product description lists 1.0 g of salt per 100 g.
Contains almonds and may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts; this is not a nut-free option.
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A natural option for colleagues who can eat almonds and don’t want added salt.
The product description lists 500 g, 100% almonds and no added salt.
Contains almonds, so it is not a nut-free option.
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A roasted, salted option for colleagues who can eat almonds.
The product description lists a resealable 150 g pack.
Contains almonds and may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts; this is not a nut-free option.
No. Almonds are among the tree nut allergens that must be declared, as the Food Allergy Foundation explains. So don’t offer them as a nut-free or generally allergen-free alternative to biscuits.
No. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets conditions for the terms ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’. The European Commission states that these rules have applied since 20 July 2016.
It’s best to keep the snack separate. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that crumbs containing gluten can contaminate a gluten-free product, so serving it separately is a practical precaution for the office biscuit tin.
Keep almonds sealed and dry, and follow the instructions on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a dry, sealed place. Jumbo says its unsalted variety should be stored in a dry, dark place.
Use the current packaging as your guide when deciding whether to eat the product, and ask the seller for clarification if anything is unclear. Albert Heijn and PLUS recommend checking the packaging before consumption.
