Almonds are only suitable for a party bag if they meet the specific dietary requirements, the school’s policy and the form of food that is appropriate for the children. Almonds are a tree nut allergen in their own right, so a label such as gluten-free or lactose-free does not mean a product is nut-free or suitable for every allergy. Check the packaging of the exact product variant. If nuts are restricted or the school does not allow food, choose a suitable alternative treat or a non-food way to celebrate.
You’re looking for a treat that meets a specific exclusion, such as almonds, gluten or milk ingredients. The Voedingscentrum lists almonds as a tree nut allergen; a gluten-free or lactose-free label on its own says nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with an almond or milk allergy.
You want to take account of the requirements of children in the class and what the school allows. Schools can set their own policies on treats, as Vereniging Openbaar Onderwijs explains. An alternative treat or a celebration without food may be a better fit.
You’re assessing not only the ingredients, but also whether the form of food is suitable for the children and the level of supervision. The Voedingscentrum warns against giving whole nuts to young children; a dietary label does not answer this question.
First check whether almonds are allowed. Then compare the exact product variant and its form with the requirements for the children and the school.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary exclusion | Check the ingredients and allergen warnings for the exact product variant. See whether the requirement relates to gluten, lactose, milk ingredients or almonds. | If I’m catering for a specific exclusion, I want to know whether the ingredients or warnings conflict with it. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this dietary exclusion. |
| School requirements | Ask which treats are allowed and whether a celebration without food is in line with the school’s policy. | When I’m handing out treats to a whole class, I want to take account of the school rules and the requirements for children in the class. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Form of food | Look out for whole nuts and consider whether the form is suitable for the children and the level of supervision. | For young children, I want to consider the form of food and supervision as well as the ingredients. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this aspect of eating safety. |
| Portioning and information | Plan how much you need for the group and keep the original packaging to hand if you’re filling the bags yourself. | Once the other requirements are met, I want to portion the amount practically and keep the product information available. Around 13% of consumers prioritise this. |
A gluten-free or lactose-free label does not make almonds suitable for someone who needs to avoid them. Almonds are themselves a tree nut allergen, as the Voedingscentrum explains.
First note which ingredient needs to be excluded, then check the ingredients and allergen warnings for the exact product variant.
A product containing only almonds as an ingredient may still carry a warning that it could contain other nuts or peanuts. This is separate information shown on the product details.
Read the allergen information alongside the ingredients list; don’t compare products based only on the number of ingredients.
A suitable dietary label does not change the fact that whole nuts can be a concern for young children. The Voedingscentrum warns about the risk of choking on whole nuts.
Assess the form of food and supervision separately. Choose a different treat if whole nuts aren’t suitable for the children.
A school may have rules about treats or choose to celebrate without edible treats.
Check the school’s requirements first, then decide which treat is suitable.
Duyvis describes Unsalted Almonds as unsalted almonds. The historical AH listing relates to a 125 g variant that is marked as discontinued.
For AH Unsalted Almonds 190 g, Albert Heijn lists a roasted variant with almonds as the only ingredient.
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g lists 99% almonds and sunflower oil.
Lidl lists Alesto Spanish almonds in several variants. The product information varies by variant.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s unroasted almonds 200 g as untreated almonds in a resealable pack.
PLUS Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds 200 g lists almonds as the only ingredient.
These are almond products for situations where almonds meet the dietary requirements and school rules. Before handing them out, always check the product information and make sure the form of food is suitable for the children.
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Only consider these if almonds and the listed ingredients meet the dietary requirements.
The product information lists almonds and salt as ingredients; the product name says they are roasted and salted.
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Only consider these if almonds meet the dietary requirements and the form is suitable for the children.
The product information lists 100% almonds as the ingredient.
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This roasted, salted variant is only suitable if almonds and the allergen information meet the requirements.
The product information lists 97% almonds, sunflower oil and 0.7% salt. It also says that the product may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
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Only consider these if almonds meet the dietary requirements and raw, unsalted almonds suit your choice.
The product name says raw and unsalted; the product information lists almonds as an ingredient.
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Only consider whole almond kernels if almonds meet the dietary requirements and the form is suitable for the children. The Voedingscentrum warns against giving whole nuts to young children.
The product information lists 100% almond kernels and describes them as whole kernels.
It warns that an allergen may be present unintentionally, for example due to cross-contamination. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has been overseeing the rules on allergen warnings; take the warning on the exact packaging into account when making your choice.
No. Lactose intolerance affects the body’s ability to digest milk sugar; a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins, as Stichting Voedselallergie explains. So don’t rely on a lactose-free label alone when choosing a product for someone with a milk allergy.
Keep the original packaging, including the ingredients and allergen information, available for parents and the teacher, and make sure different variants don’t get mixed up. This is a practical way to keep the product information clear; it is not a separate legal requirement established for private treats.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods. This requirement for food information does not automatically make a parent handing out private treats responsible for separately labelling bags they have filled themselves.
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the exact product variant. PLUS Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds 200 g and Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g say to store in a cool, dry, dark place; that instruction does not in itself determine how long almonds will keep after you’ve repacked them yourself.
