Only take cashew nuts if you and your fellow picnickers can eat cashews; if anyone has a cashew allergy, no type of cashew is suitable. If you need to avoid gluten or lactose, check the details on the exact pack and read the ingredients and allergen warnings separately: unsalted, vegan or a single ingredient does not mean allergen-free. Follow the storage instructions on the pack when transporting them, and use clean, tightly sealed containers.
You’re looking for a clear gluten-free label and want to check the ingredients and warnings on the exact pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies the ‘gluten-free’ label and the Crossed Grain symbol as useful indicators.
You’re looking for a snack with a lactose-free or vegan label that suits your needs. These labels don’t automatically tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a milk or nut allergy; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Food Allergy Foundation distinguish between lactose intolerance and milk allergy.
You want to know which ingredients and warnings matter before you shop. Cashew is a tree nut allergen, as described by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, so it isn’t an option for anyone who needs to avoid cashew.
First, establish which ingredients you or your guests need to avoid. Then check the dietary labelling, and only after that choose based on packaging and convenience when you’re out and about.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Check whether cashew is listed as an ingredient, and read the separate ‘may contain’ warning too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies cashew as a tree nut allergen. | If I need to avoid cashew or another allergen, I want to be able to check the ingredients and warnings before packing. Around 36% of consumers say avoiding allergens is their top priority. |
| Gluten-free | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the exact pack; also check the ingredients and warnings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies these labels as useful indicators. | If I follow a gluten-free diet, I want to be sure about the snack I’m taking with me, not just the nut itself. Around 29% of consumers prioritise clear gluten-free information. |
| Lactose-free or plant-based | Check for the label that matches your dietary needs. Lactose intolerance and milk allergy are different; a vegan label is no substitute for checking allergens. | If my main reason is to avoid lactose or choose plant-based food, I don’t want to confuse this with suitability for someone with a milk allergy. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this dietary choice. |
| Taking them with you and storage | Read the storage instructions and check that the pack seals securely. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using tightly sealed containers for food you’re taking with you. | For a picnic, I want a snack that’s easy to transport and can be resealed after opening. Around 14% of consumers say transport and storage are the most important practical considerations. |
A gluten-free or lactose-free label doesn’t mean that cashew or other allergens are absent. No cashew product is suitable for someone with a cashew allergy.
Tip: establish which allergen needs to be avoided, then check both the ingredients list and warnings for that person.
The PLUS product we looked at lists cashew nuts as an ingredient and warns that the product may contain peanuts. So a short ingredients list doesn’t answer every question about allergens.
Tip: read the warning on the current pack as well as the ingredients list.
Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar; a milk allergy relates to milk proteins. So a lactose-free label alone doesn’t tell you whether a product contains milk allergens.
Tip: establish whether you need to avoid lactose or are dealing with a milk allergy, then check the relevant product information.
The Food Allergy Foundation states that tree nut allergens remain stable when heated, so roasting doesn’t remove the cashew allergen.
Tip: don’t choose roasted or unroasted cashew nuts if cashew needs to be avoided.
Duyvis Oven roasted cashews salted, 125 g, is a savoury, oven-roasted option. Albert Heijn states in its product information that no oil or fat has been added.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Cashewnoten ongezouten, 170 g, is vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
The product information lists unsalted options in 130 g and 200 g packs. The 130 g pack is described as resealable.
Lidl lists the Way To Go! Cashewnoten ongezouten option.
ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S Cashewnoten geroosterd en ongezouten, 250 g.
PLUS Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand, 200 g, lists cashew nuts as an ingredient and carries a vegan label.
This selection includes cashew nuts to take with you or enjoy as a snack. The products contain cashew and aren’t suitable if you or a fellow picnicker needs to avoid it; check each pack for information about other allergens too.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a cashew snack with an ingredients list of 100% cashew kernels; not suitable if you need to avoid cashew.
The product information lists 100% cashew kernels and says they’re ready to eat. Store in a cool, dry place and check the pack for allergen warnings.
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A salted option if you’re looking for a savoury cashew snack; check the allergen information if you need to avoid other ingredients.
The ingredients list states 98% cashew, sunflower oil and salt. The product information advises storing in a cool, dry place and sealing the pack securely after opening.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a 500 g pack of cashews to serve or enjoy as a snack; not suitable if you need to avoid cashew.
The product information lists 99% cashew nuts and salt, and says they’re ready to eat. Store in a cool, dry place and check the pack for allergen information.
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A roasted, unsalted option if those are the product characteristics you’re looking for; they don’t make it suitable for someone with a cashew allergy.
The product information lists cashew nuts as an ingredient and advises storing in a cool, dry place. Keep the pack tightly sealed after opening and check the allergen information.
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A 500 g pack if you’d like to take cashew nuts with you to share; not suitable if you need to avoid cashew.
The product information lists cashew kernels and salt, and advises storing in a cool, dry place. Check the pack for allergen warnings too.
Check for a gluten-free label on the exact pack, and read the ingredients and allergen warnings too. Albert Heijn displays this label on its 170 g AH Cashewnoten ongezouten option; a product name such as ‘unsalted’ says nothing about gluten on its own.
No. Roasting or leaving them unroasted doesn’t make cashew nuts suitable for someone with a cashew allergy. The Food Allergy Foundation states that tree nut allergens remain stable when heated.
No. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, whereas a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. The Food Allergy Foundation identifies milk as an allergen; if you have a milk allergy, check the milk allergen information rather than relying on a lactose-free label alone.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack, and use clean, tightly sealed containers if you transfer them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises sealing food securely for transport; product information for several dried cashew options recommends storing in a cool, dry place.
Do not eat the 170 g pack of Trader Joe’s unsalted cashew nuts with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 mentions possible metal fragments; it applies to the product identification listed and does not automatically apply to all ALDI cashew nuts.
