Don’t choose cashew nuts if you need to avoid cashews; choose a different snack category instead. If you can eat cashews, check the ingredients and warnings on the specific pack to make sure they fit your diet. Whether they’re unsalted, unroasted or roasted tells you nothing on its own about other allergens. Only then compare flavour and pack size.
You’re looking for a snack that fits a diet which excludes cashews. Unsalted cashews, or cashews prepared in a different way, are not a cashew-free alternative. Stichting Voedselallergie and Jeroen Bosch Hospital provide information about nut allergies; follow the individual dietary advice you’ve been given.
You can eat cashews but need to avoid, for example, milk, peanuts or gluten. Check the ingredients and warnings on the specific pack. A general description such as ‘unsalted’ tells you nothing about the presence of other allergens.
You want to buy a suitable amount as part of a small top-up shop. First check that the product fits your diet, then compare how it’s prepared and its net weight.
First, identify the ingredient you need to avoid. If cashews fit your diet, check for any other allergens, how they’re prepared and how much you want to buy.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| The allergen you need to avoid | Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack. If you need to avoid cashews, choose a different snack category. | If cashews or another allergen don’t fit your diet, you’ll want to rule out unsuitable products first. Around 29% of consumers make this their main buying priority. |
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Read the ingredients and any warnings about wheat or cereals containing gluten on the specific pack. | If you need to avoid gluten, you’ll also want to check any warnings on the pack. Around 23% of consumers prioritise avoiding gluten. |
| Preparation and salt | Compare unsalted, salted, unroasted and roasted as separate characteristics. None of these proves that other allergens are absent. | If you can eat cashews and are mainly looking for an unsalted snack, check for that description without treating it as an allergen claim. Around 18% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with the amount you want to buy, and follow the storage and best-before information on the pack. | If you’re buying a small amount, you’ll want to choose a quantity that suits your needs. Around 18% of consumers prioritise how much they buy. |
| The total purchase | Compare the cost of the pack you need and, when ordering online, check the terms for the whole order. | Once you’ve confirmed that the product fits your dietary requirements, you can consider the cost of the amount you need. Around 12% of consumers make cost their main consideration. |
Cashews are a tree nut allergen in their own right. A different preparation method or flavour doesn’t change that.
Start with the ingredient you need to avoid. If cashews don’t fit your diet, choose a different snack category and check its label too.
These words describe the salt content or preparation method, not the absence of milk, peanuts, gluten or other allergens. Seasoned cashews can also carry warnings.
Check the ingredients and warnings separately from the product name and preparation method.
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns TRADER JOE'S unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026. The warning mentions possible metal fragments and says not to eat the cashews. It does not automatically apply to other products or pack sizes.
Compare the brand, weight, barcode and best-before date with the official warning. Do not eat a pack covered by the warning, even if its best-before date has passed.
Duyvis describes several cashew varieties with different preparation methods or flavours.
Albert Heijn lists an unsalted cashew variety for shoppers looking for this option.
Jumbo lists unsalted cashews in several pack sizes.
PLUS lists an unroasted, unsalted cashew variety in a 200 g bag.
Lidl lists unsalted cashews for shoppers looking for this particular variety.
ALDI lists, among other products, TRADER JOE'S roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
These Joybuy products are cashew varieties for topping up with plain, unsalted or salted nuts. That alone doesn’t mean they’re suitable for a specific free-from diet; check the current pack for ingredients and warnings.
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An option for a small top-up if cashews fit your diet; the product name gives the weight as 160 g. Check the current pack for ingredients and warnings.
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For those who can eat cashews and are looking for a salted variety; the product name gives the weight as 150 g. Check the current pack for ingredients and warnings.
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For those who can eat cashews and are looking for a roasted, unsalted variety; the product name gives the weight as 200 g. Check the current pack for ingredients and warnings.
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This variety is salted and, according to the product information, contains 500 g; the pack is described as a large family-size pack. That may be more than you need for a small top-up. Check the current pack for ingredients and warnings.
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A compact amount for those who can eat cashews and are looking for a salted variety; the product information gives the weight as 120 g. Check the current pack for ingredients and warnings.
No. Unsalted cashews still contain cashews. If cashews don’t fit your personal diet, choose a different snack category. If you’re allergic to another type of nut, follow the individual dietary advice you’ve been given.
No. Lactose is milk sugar, whereas a milk allergy is caused by milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, check the ingredients and warnings about milk on the specific pack. Don’t base your choice on a lactose-free description alone.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), safe stock produced before the new precautionary allergen labelling was fully introduced can still be sold after 1 January 2026. Read the information on the specific pack; older wording alone doesn’t prove that a product is safe or unsafe for your diet.
Yes. Albert Heijn and PLUS say that ingredient and allergen information can change. Check the pack before using the product, even if you recognise the product name.
Check whether it’s the 170 g unsalted pack with barcode 2003020120930 and a best-before date of 23-09-2026. The NVWA warns of possible metal fragments and says not to eat these cashews. The fact that the best-before date has passed doesn’t cancel the warning for a pack you still have.
