Who is this guide for?

Avoiding a specific ingredient

You’re looking for cashew nuts that suit a particular dietary requirement, for example if you need to avoid gluten or lactose. First, identify the ingredient in question: an allergy and an intolerance are not the same thing. Cashews themselves are an allergen, as Stichting Voedselallergie also explains.

An everyday unsalted snack with your coffee

You can eat cashew nuts and are looking for a simple snack for your regular afternoon break. The Dutch Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in its Wheel of Five; also check that the variety suits any dietary requirements you may have.

Choosing a particular preparation method

For example, you may want to distinguish between nuts prepared without added oil and a salted variety. Compare the exact product range: Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil. This is a product description, not a general allergen claim.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the ingredient you need to avoid. Then decide whether you’re mainly looking for unsalted cashew nuts, a particular preparation method or a pack size that suits how you’ll use them.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Avoiding a specific ingredient Compare the ingredients with what you need to avoid. Cashews are an allergen; Stichting Voedselallergie lists cashew nuts among the nut allergens. I want to make sure the ingredients suit my specific dietary requirements; around 34% of consumers put dietary suitability first.
Allergen information Read the current allergen and precautionary information on the packaging. The NVWA describes allergen information as a legal requirement for food businesses. I can eat cashews but also want to check information about other allergens; around 27% of consumers prioritise cross-contamination information.
Unsalted varieties Check whether your chosen variety is unsalted; sea salt and unsalted are different product choices. The Dutch Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in its Wheel of Five. I’m looking for cashew nuts for a regular coffee break and want an unsalted variety; around 20% of consumers prioritise this everyday choice.
Preparation method Compare the description of the exact variety. Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil; this does not automatically tell you anything about salt or allergens. I’m mainly interested in how the cashew nuts are prepared and want to compare that product feature; around 13% of consumers prioritise the preparation method.
Packaging and storage Choose a pack size that suits how often you’ll have the snack, and seal the pack tightly after opening. The Dutch Nutrition Centre advises storing unsalted cashew nuts in a cool, dark and dry place. I want to store and use the contents without opening more than suits my needs; around 6% of consumers prioritise packaging and reducing waste.

Things to watch out for with cashew nuts

  • Assuming cashew nuts are allergen-free

    Cashews themselves are an allergen. A label such as gluten-free, or another specific free-from claim, does not make cashew nuts suitable for everyone with a food allergy.

    Base your choice on the ingredient you actually need to avoid. If you need to avoid cashews, don’t choose a product that contains them.

  • Assuming vegan, unsalted and made without added oil offer the same guarantee

    These are different product features. None of these labels, on its own, proves that a product is free from other allergens.

    Check the preparation method, salt content and allergen information separately for the exact variety.

  • Relying on an online label you read earlier

    Albert Heijn and PLUS say that ingredients and allergy information can change. Information you looked at previously may not match the packaging you buy now.

    Read the current packaging before eating the product, and check the information against your specific dietary requirements.

    A pack may be unusable if its ingredients don’t suit your diet.

  • Ignoring a warning about a specific pack

    The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe's unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The warning relates to possible metal fragments and does not automatically apply to other varieties.

    If you still have this pack, compare the product, weight, barcode and best-before date with the warning, and do not eat the affected pack.

Brands to consider

Duyvis

Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil and also offers a Cashews Zeezout variety.

  • The product description distinguishes between a preparation method without added oil and a salted variety.
  • Flavour or preparation descriptions are not general allergen claims; check the information for the exact variety.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers its own-brand AH Cashewnoten ongezouten variety.

  • The product name makes it easy to identify the unsalted variety.
  • Albert Heijn warns that product information can change; the variety name does not offer a general free-from guarantee.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes its Cashewnoten Ongezouten in a 200 g pack.

  • The product information specifies that the variety is unsalted and gives the pack size.
  • The description of the salt content does not prove that the product is free from gluten, milk, peanuts or other allergens.

Lidl

Lidl sells cashew nuts under the Alesto brand, including unsalted and spicy roasted varieties.

  • The range information distinguishes between different varieties.
  • Ingredients and allergen information need to be checked for each variety; the range description does not automatically apply to every pack.

ALDI

Under the Trader Joe's product name, ALDI describes roasted, unsalted cashew nuts in a 250 g pack.

  • The product description combines roasted and unsalted.
  • The NVWA warning for Trader Joe's unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, concerns a separate pack and should not be generalised to the 250 g variety.

PLUS

PLUS describes an own-brand Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand variety in a 200 g pack.

  • The product name makes it easy to identify the unsalted, unroasted combination.
  • PLUS warns that ingredients and allergy information can change; these features do not offer a general free-from guarantee.

Cashew nuts at Joybuy

This selection of Joybuy products includes cashew nuts with different preparation methods and salt levels. It is not a general free-from selection: check each product to make sure its ingredients and allergen information suit your diet.

Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g

Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g

Suits those who can eat cashew nuts and are looking for a ready-to-eat snack.

The product description lists cashew kernels as the only ingredient. Cashews themselves are an allergen.

Joybuy
Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g

Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g

Suits those looking for roasted cashew nuts without added fat or oil; the product description says they are oven-roasted.

The product information lists cashew, gluten, wheat and peanuts. Check the current packaging if you need to avoid any of these ingredients.

The description states that each pack contains 4–5 servings.

Joybuy
g'woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted, 200 g

g'woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted, 200 g

Suits those looking for roasted, unsalted cashew nuts.

The product information lists cashew as an ingredient and an allergen. Keep the pack tightly sealed after opening.

Joybuy
Be&Cheery Cashews with Purple Skin, 180 grade, 500 g

Be&Cheery Cashews with Purple Skin, 180 grade, 500 g

Suits those looking for a ready-to-eat cashew variety; the product description says the cashews are lightly salted.

The ingredients information lists cashew and salt. The pack contains 500 g.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are lactose-free and suitable for a milk allergy the same thing?

No. The Dutch Nutrition Centre describes lactose intolerance as difficulty digesting lactose; a food allergy is different. So check the information relevant to your specific dietary requirements, rather than relying solely on a general free-from label.

What allergen information should I check on cashew nuts?

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, and look for the specific ingredient you need to avoid. The NVWA says that providing information about the 14 regulated allergens is a legal requirement. For prepacked products, this information appears on the label; for unpackaged products, the seller must provide it in another permitted way. This information requirement does not guarantee that a product suits every diet.

What should I do with the specific ALDI pack mentioned in the NVWA warning?

Do not eat Trader Joe's unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerns possible metal fragments. The best-before date has now passed, but that does not change the warning if you still have a pack.

Is ‘gluten-free’ just a marketing term?

No. The European Commission refers to Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, which sets out the conditions for the claims ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’. This regulation does not, by itself, prove that a particular pack of cashew nuts meets those conditions; check the information for the exact product.

Can you try cashew nuts if you’re allergic to another nut?

Not based on that information alone. Allergie Centra Nederland notes that an allergy to one type of nut does not automatically mean someone is allergic to all nuts. This is not advice to test it yourself: the Dutch Nutrition Centre advises against experimenting with food sensitivities on your own. Talk to a healthcare professional about your situation.