Who is this choice relevant to?

Snackers following a specific exclusion diet

You’re looking for a specific gluten-free or lactose-free claim and want to distinguish ingredients from warnings about possible traces. Cashew itself must still fit your diet; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists cashew as an allergen.

Office snackers looking for unsalted options

You’re comparing unsalted varieties by their ingredients and added oils, without assuming that ‘unsalted’ means ‘allergen-free’. Product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo shows that ingredients vary between varieties.

Buyers stocking a shared snack cupboard

You’re looking for a suitable quantity and want to keep allergen information with the snacks. A shared supply of cashew nuts won’t automatically suit everyone; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a dry, airtight container.

What should you look for when buying?

First check whether cashew itself is suitable for you, then look at the specific dietary claim and ingredients, and choose packaging to suit how the nuts will be used in the office.

The percentages offer a general indication of the priorities of consumers considering cashew nuts for the office; each row represents one main purchasing priority.

What to consider What should you look for? Who is this important to?
Allergies and allergen information Check which allergens the product contains and which it may contain. Don’t choose a cashew product if you need to avoid cashew. If I need to avoid allergens, I first want to know whether cashew itself is a risk and which warnings apply to this variety. Around 31% of consumers prioritise allergens and suitability for people with allergies.
Gluten-free or lactose-free claim Look for the specific claim on the exact variety, and read the allergen information too. If I want to avoid a particular ingredient, I look for a specific, relevant dietary claim and check that cashew itself is suitable. Around 25% of consumers make a specific dietary requirement their main purchasing priority.
Unsalted ingredients Compare the ingredients: unsalted doesn’t automatically mean free from oil or other ingredients. If I want an unsalted snack with a simple list of ingredients, I check the full ingredients list. Around 19% of consumers prioritise this combination.
Portions and storage Check the net weight, the number of individual packs and the storage instructions. For my own snack breaks or a shared supply, I want to know how the pack can be divided up and stored. Around 13% of consumers prioritise portions and stock management.
Stock quantity for repeat purchases Choose a pack size to suit consumption and make sure the packaging can be sealed properly. If I regularly buy snacks for the office, I want to choose a quantity that suits how much will be used and how it can be stored. Around 12% of consumers prioritise the quantity needed.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘free from’ means safe for everyone

    A gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan claim doesn’t change the fact that cashew itself is an allergen.

    Check which ingredient is excluded, and read the information about cashew and possible cross-contamination too.

  • Confusing unsalted with oil-free

    The Albert Heijn and Jumbo unsalted varieties reviewed here contain sunflower oil; the PLUS unroasted variety reviewed here lists cashew nuts as its only ingredient.

    Check the ingredients list for the exact variety if you’re looking for a product with just one ingredient.

  • Putting out a shared snack bowl without product information

    Colleagues may then find it difficult to check which allergens the product contains or may contain.

    Keep the original packaging with the snacks, store the nuts in an airtight container and don’t present them as suitable for everyone.

  • Assuming a salted variety is gluten-free

    The Joybuy listing for Duyvis Cashews Sea Salt 125 g reviewed here warns that it may contain cereals containing gluten and wheat.

    Check the allergen information for the specific offer and packaging; a brand name or similar product name is no substitute for checking.

Brands and varieties to compare

Albert Heijn

The AH Unsalted Cashew Nuts 170 g variety reviewed here is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • Albert Heijn lists 96% cashew and sunflower oil; the variety is also labelled vegan.
  • The variety contains cashew and carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and other nuts. This claim applies only to this variety.

PLUS

PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashew Nuts 200 g is an option if you’re looking for an unsalted variety with one listed ingredient.

  • PLUS lists cashew nuts as the sole ingredient and says the variety is vegan.
  • The cashew nuts contain cashew and may contain peanuts; a short ingredients list doesn’t mean the product is allergen-free for everyone.

Jumbo

Jumbo Unsalted Cashew Nuts 200 g is an unsalted variety containing cashew and sunflower oil.

  • Jumbo lists 99% cashew nuts and sunflower oil.
  • The variety contains cashew and may contain nuts and peanuts. Its ingredients therefore differ from those of the AH or PLUS varieties reviewed here.

Lidl

The Way To Go! variety reviewed here is an unsalted multipack, suitable for portion-controlled snacking.

  • Lidl lists a pack containing 3 × 25 g.
  • Portion-sized packs don’t, by themselves, indicate whether the product is suitable for a specific exclusion diet; check the packaging for details.

ALDI

Trader Joe’s Roasted Unsalted Cashew Nuts 250 g is an option if you’re looking for roasted, unsalted cashew nuts.

  • ALDI says this variety is roasted and unsalted, and comes in a 250 g pack.
  • Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before adding it to a shared office snack cupboard.

Duyvis

Duyvis describes its Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil, and its Cashews Sea Salt as seasoned with sea salt.

  • These descriptions help you tell the varieties apart.
  • The brand descriptions don’t prove that a product is allergen-free. The Joybuy listing for Cashews Sea Salt 125 g reviewed here warns that it may contain peanuts, cereals containing gluten and wheat.

Cashew nuts at Joybuy

These Joybuy products are cashew nuts for snacking, including unsalted and salted varieties. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each product.

Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g

Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g

A simple snack option if cashew itself fits your diet.

The product description lists 100% cashew kernels and a net weight of 160 g. Store in a cool, dry place and seal the pack tightly after opening.

Contains cashew; not suitable for people with a cashew nut allergy.

Joybuy
Three Squirrels Purple-Shell Cashews, 500 g

Three Squirrels Purple-Shell Cashews, 500 g

A salted snack for anyone who can eat cashew and is looking for a larger pack to share.

The product description lists 99% cashew nuts, salt and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g. The pack contains 500 g.

Contains cashew; not suitable for people with a cashew nut allergy.

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

g’woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted, 200 g

A roasted, unsalted snack for anyone who can eat cashew.

The product title describes roasted, unsalted cashew nuts; the product information lists cashew nuts as an ingredient and gives a pack size of 200 g. Store in a cool, dry place and seal the pack tightly after opening.

Contains cashew; not suitable for people with a cashew nut allergy.

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

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

A salted cashew snack for anyone who can eat cashew and wants to choose a pack size to suit their needs.

The product description lists cashew kernels and salt as ingredients, 1.2 g of salt per 100 g, and a pack size of 500 g.

Contains cashew; not suitable for people with a cashew nut allergy.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are ‘free from’ cashew nuts allergen-free?

No. Cashew nuts are themselves an allergen, as the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and the Food Allergy Foundation point out. A gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan claim doesn’t mean a product is suitable if you need to avoid cashew.

What should I look for in a gluten-free or lactose-free claim?

Check the claim for the exact variety, and read the allergen information too. Albert Heijn lists the 170 g unsalted variety reviewed here as gluten-free and lactose-free; such product claims don’t automatically apply to other cashew nuts.

Can I rely on the product page alone?

Check the packaging of the variety you’re actually buying too. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise that ingredient, dietary and allergen information can change.

How can I keep allergen information available with a shared office supply?

Keep the original packaging with the snacks and make the ingredients and allergen information available to colleagues. A shared supply of cashew nuts won’t necessarily be suitable for everyone.

How should I store opened cashew nuts?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a dry, airtight container, preferably in a cool place. Follow the instructions on the specific pack too; for example, the AH variety reviewed here says to seal the pack tightly after use and store it in a dark place.