First, decide which ingredient you need to avoid: if you have a cashew allergy, no cashew product is suitable. For avoiding gluten or lactose, the AH pack we reviewed is explicitly labelled gluten-free and lactose-free; unsalted, unroasted and made without added oil are different qualities. Always check the ingredients and warnings on the exact pack.
You want to avoid gluten or lactose and are looking for clear information about the exact pack. That doesn’t automatically make cashew nuts suitable if you have other allergies or are concerned about cross-contamination.
You’re looking for an afternoon snack with no added salt and want to choose your own portion. A large pack size isn’t the same as a recommended serving size.
You want to know whether cashew nuts are unroasted, fried or oven-roasted, and whether oil has been added. Unsalted doesn’t automatically mean no added oil.
First, check whether the type of nut itself is suitable for you. Then compare the specific dietary claims, ingredients and preparation method on the pack.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the exact pack. | If you have a cashew allergy, avoid cashews themselves and check for cross-contamination warnings too; around 36% of consumers prioritise allergen safety. |
| Avoiding gluten or lactose | Look for an explicit claim on the exact variety, and also read the ingredients and allergen information. | If you avoid gluten or lactose, you’ll want a clear product claim rather than making assumptions based on the name; around 29% of consumers prioritise this information. |
| Salt and portion size | Check whether salt has been added, the nutritional information per 100 g and any serving-size information. | For an everyday unsalted snack, you’ll also want to weigh out your own portion; around 21% of consumers prioritise choosing unsalted products and controlling their portion size. |
| Ingredients and preparation | Read the ingredients list and check whether the variety is unroasted, roasted or prepared with added oil. | If you’re mainly checking how the nuts are prepared or whether oil has been added, the difference between unsalted and oil-free matters; around 14% of consumers give this top priority. |
A claim about gluten or lactose doesn’t change the fact that cashew nuts themselves are an allergen.
First check which ingredient you want to avoid, then read the ingredients and cross-contamination warnings on the exact pack. If you have a cashew allergy, don’t choose a cashew product.
The AH and Jumbo unsalted varieties we reviewed contain sunflower oil; the unsalted, unroasted PLUS variety lists only cashew nuts as an ingredient.
If added oil is a deciding factor for you, check the ingredients list rather than relying on the word ‘unsalted’.
Ingredients and warnings can vary between products such as Duyvis Sea Salt and Original, or between salted and unsalted varieties.
Check the full product name and the information on the pack you intend to buy; a brand name isn’t a guarantee that a product meets your dietary needs.
The NVWA warning concerned Trader Joe’s unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, with a best-before date of 23/09/2026; it didn’t apply to all ALDI cashew nuts.
Check the product, pack weight and best-before date. Don’t eat the specific pack named in the warning, even if the date has now passed.
The Cashews Sea Salt and Cashews Original varieties described here differ in flavour and preparation.
AH Unsalted Cashew Nuts 225 g is an option if you’re looking for explicit gluten-free and lactose-free claims.
Jumbo Unsalted Cashew Nuts 200 g is a good match if you’re looking for a product with no added salt.
The Lidl 500 g unsalted cashew nuts listed here may suit you if you’re looking for a larger pack.
Trader Joe’s Roasted Unsalted Cashew Nuts 250 g is an option if you’re specifically looking for a roasted, unsalted variety.
PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashew Nuts 200 g may suit you if you’re looking for unroasted cashews with no added oil.
These Joybuy products offer cashew options for an afternoon snack, with differences in salt, preparation and ingredients. Check the product information on the pack for each variety, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
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May suit you if you’re looking for a snack with one ingredient; the ingredients information lists 100% cashew kernels.
Contains cashew and isn’t suitable if you have a cashew allergy.
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May suit you if you’re looking for a roasted, unsalted snack; the ingredients information lists only cashew nuts.
The product information lists cashew and other tree nuts.
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May suit you if you’re looking for a salted cashew snack; the product information lists cashew and salt.
Contains salt and cashew; not suitable if you have a cashew allergy.
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May suit you if you’re looking for a dry-roasted cashew snack; the product information describes oven-roasting without added fat or oil.
The product information lists cashew, gluten, wheat, peanuts and salt. It isn’t suitable if you need to avoid these ingredients or have a cashew allergy.
No. Stichting Voedselallergie states that the allergen remains stable when heated. If you have a cashew allergy, don’t choose any cashew product, even if it’s roasted or unsalted.
No. A lactose-free claim relates to lactose and doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for someone with a milk protein allergy. Check the information about milk as an allergen separately.
Yes. The European Commission refers to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 for the conditions applying to gluten information. It has applied since 20 July 2016. A conclusion based only on the product name is no substitute for a claim on the exact pack.
No. The 225 g AH pack states that it contains nine 25 g portions. Voedingscentrum also uses a 25 g handful when giving general nutritional information for unsalted cashew nuts; 500 g is a pack weight, not a recommended serving size.
Follow the storage advice for your variety. AH recommends storing the pack in a cool, dark and dry place and closing it securely after use. For Duyvis Sea Salt, the product information recommends storing the nuts in a light- and airtight container.
