Start with the substance you need to avoid, rather than relying on a general ‘free from’ claim. If you have a cashew allergy, cashew nuts are not suitable. For other dietary needs, check the ingredients and relevant allergen and cross-contact information for the specific product. Unsalted, unroasted or roasted says nothing in itself about whether a product is allergen-free.
You’re looking for a snack without a particular allergen and don’t want to assume that ‘free from’ is a general guarantee of safety. Cashew is itself a tree nut allergen, so if you have a cashew allergy, you should avoid cashew nuts. Stichting Voedselallergie and the NVWA provide information about nuts and allergens on food labels.
You need to avoid gluten and want to check the ingredients, any gluten-free claim and relevant cross-contact information for the product you choose. The European Commission explains the EU requirements for gluten claims, while Voedingscentrum explains who may need to follow a gluten-free diet.
You’re buying for several people and want to avoid confusing lactose intolerance with a milk protein allergy. Stichting Voedselallergie explains that they are different conditions. Keep the product information so each guest can check whether it meets their own dietary needs.
Start with the substance someone needs to avoid. Consider how the nuts are prepared and how much salt they contain only afterwards, as matters of taste or product preference.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | First identify the allergen, then check the ingredients and any relevant cross-contact warnings on the exact product packaging. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, I want to be able to check this for the product I choose. For around 36% of consumers, avoiding a specific allergen is the top purchasing priority. |
| Avoiding gluten | Check the specific gluten-free claim, ingredients and relevant cross-contact information. Don’t infer suitability from the product name. | If avoiding gluten is my main concern, I check the information for that exact product. Checking for gluten is the top purchasing priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Lactose or milk protein | Establish whether lactose or milk protein needs to be avoided, then check the ingredients and allergen information accordingly. | I want to know whether the concern is lactose or milk protein, as these involve different checks. For around 21% of consumers, the main concern is milk or lactose. |
| Preparation and salt | Read the exact product name and distinguish between ‘unsalted’, ‘unroasted’ and ‘no added oil’. | If I can eat cashews and am mainly looking for an unsalted or unroasted product, I check for those features once I’ve considered the dietary requirements. For around 14% of consumers, this type of product preference is the top purchasing priority. |
Cashew is itself a tree nut allergen. So even if a product doesn’t contain a particular substance, that doesn’t automatically make it suitable for someone with a cashew allergy.
Identify the substance that needs to be avoided, and don’t choose cashew nuts if you have a cashew allergy.
These terms describe a product’s features or how it has been prepared, not whether it contains allergens or may have been subject to cross-contact.
Check preparation method and dietary suitability separately. For allergen information, refer to the exact product packaging.
Lactose and milk protein are different selection criteria. A lactose-free claim doesn’t automatically answer whether a product contains milk protein.
Establish which substance needs to be avoided and check the product information accordingly.
The NVWA issued a warning about Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026, due to possible metal particles. The warning applies to the product and date specified; it doesn’t automatically apply to all cashews sold by ALDI.
Compare the product name, pack size and best-before date with the warning. Don’t eat the affected product specified in the warning.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as a savoury, oven-roasted 125 g product with no added oil.
AH Cashewnoten ongezouten is a product range for anyone looking for an unsalted option.
Jumbo lists Cashewnoten Ongezouten 200 g and a separate unroasted option in a 140 g pack.
Lidl lists a product called Ongezouten cashewnoten.
ALDI describes Trader Joe’s Cashewnoten geroosterd en ongezouten as roasted and unsalted, in a 250 g pack.
PLUS Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand is a product range for anyone looking for an unroasted, unsalted option; the listed pack contains 200 g.
These products offer a range of cashew options for people who can eat cashews. The product names and descriptions distinguish between features such as roasted, unsalted and salted; they don’t, in themselves, confirm that a product is suitable for someone with a specific allergy. Check the information on the exact product packaging.
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An option to consider if you can eat cashews and are looking for cashew kernels.
The product description says it contains 100% cashew kernels, and the pack contains 160 g. Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
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A good match if you prefer a savoury, roasted cashew option and can eat cashews.
The product description says the cashews are oven-roasted and come in a 125 g pack. Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
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An option if you can eat cashews and are looking for a salted variety.
The product description lists 98% cashews, sunflower oil and 1% salt; the product name gives the pack size as 150 g. Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
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A good match if you prefer roasted, unsalted cashews and can eat cashews.
The product name says roasted and unsalted, and the description lists cashews as an ingredient. Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
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An option to consider if you can eat cashews and are looking for cashews with purple skins.
The product name specifies 180 grade and 500 g; the description lists cashew kernels and salt. Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
No, not in general: cashew is a tree nut allergen. If you need to avoid cashews, a gluten-free or lactose-free cashew product isn’t a suitable alternative.
No. Lactose intolerance and a milk protein allergy are different conditions. Choose based on the substance that actually needs to be avoided and check the information for the exact product.
The claim must meet the requirements of EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, as explained by the European Commission. It doesn’t automatically mean every cashew product is gluten-free, so check the claim and product information on the pack you plan to buy.
Not without considering the risk of choking. The product page for Jumbo Ongebrande Cashewnoten 140 g warns that young children may choke on nuts, so don’t assume whole cashew nuts are a suitable snack for everyone at your gathering.
Don’t eat the 170 g pack of Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews with a best-before date of 23-09-2026 if it matches the NVWA warning. The warning mentions possible metal particles and applies to the specific product and date listed.
