Who is this buying guide for?

Shoppers with a specific dietary requirement

You’re looking for a snack without a particular ingredient or allergen, and want to know what the packaging confirms. Cashews aren’t suitable if you need to avoid cashews; for other exclusions, check the exact product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and Stichting Voedselallergie identify cashews as a tree nut allergen.

Parents who need to follow school rules

You want to know before buying whether cashews can be taken to school or included in a treat. Your school’s rules determine what’s allowed in that situation. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that schools can set their own rules about treats.

Shoppers looking for an everyday unsalted snack

If cashews are suitable for your child and allowed at school, you may be looking for an unsalted snack and a pack size that suits how you’ll use it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists unsalted nuts as a snack for children aged 4 to 12; for young children, the form of the snack also needs consideration.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check whether cashews and the exact pack are suitable for your dietary needs and allowed by the school. Then consider the salt, how you’ll use them and the pack size.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Dietary suitability Which ingredient or allergen do you need to avoid? Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, including any warning about possible cross-contamination. If you avoid a specific allergen, you’ll want to be sure what the label says about that particular variety. Around 31% of consumers put dietary suitability first.
School rules Check the rules for lunchboxes, the classroom or treats, and whether they exclude nuts. If you’re buying a snack for a specific school occasion, it needs to comply with that school’s rules. Around 25% of consumers give school rules top priority.
Salt and seasoning Check whether the exact variety is unsalted and whether a seasoning mix has been added. If you’re looking for a simple, unsalted snack after checking dietary suitability and school rules, it’s worth distinguishing between unsalted and flavoured varieties. Around 19% of consumers mainly choose based on whether a variety is unsalted.
Form and storage Consider whether whole nuts are suitable for the child, and follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the pack. If you’re buying a snack for a child, you’ll want to consider its form and how practical it is to store. Around 13% of consumers put safe, practical use first.
Pack size Compare the contents of the exact packs and consider how much you’ll use before the stated best-before date. If you want a pack that suits your expected usage, the contents are a clear factor to consider. Around 12% of consumers give pack size the most weight.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming “free from” means free from all allergens

    Cashews are themselves a tree nut allergen. So, a general impression given by the packaging doesn’t mean cashews are suitable for someone who needs to avoid them.

    First, be clear about which ingredient or allergen you need to avoid, then check the exact pack. Don’t choose cashews if you need to avoid cashews.

  • Assuming a snack that’s suitable at home can automatically go to school

    A product that’s suitable at home might not comply with the rules for a classroom, lunchbox or treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that school rules can determine what may and may not be given as a treat.

    Check the rules for the specific school occasion before buying a larger supply.

  • Confusing “no added oil” with “unsalted”

    Duyvis Cashews Original are described as oven-roasted with a savoury flavour and no added oil. That doesn’t mean the variety is unsalted or free from allergens. A separate retailer listing for Duyvis Oven Roasted Salted Cashews mentions a seasoning mix and warnings for wheat, peanuts and various types of nuts.

    Check the salt, seasoning and allergens separately on the pack of the variety you’re buying.

  • Assuming a warning for one pack applies to all packs

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warning dated 20 May 2026 concerned Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. This is not the same listing as the 250 g Trader Joe’s variety.

    Compare the product name, weight, barcode and best-before date with the warning. Don’t eat a pack that matches the details given.

Brands to consider

Duyvis

Duyvis describes its Cashews Original as oven-roasted, savoury and made without added oil.

  • The product description gives specific details about flavour and preparation.
  • This is the manufacturer’s description, not an independent assessment. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Unsalted Cashews.

  • The product name makes it easy to identify the unsalted variety.
  • Unsalted doesn’t mean free from cashews or other allergens. Albert Heijn says that product and allergen information may change.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Unsalted Cashews, 200 g, and Unroasted Cashews, 140 g.

  • The listings show specific differences in product type and pack size.
  • Check the allergen information on the exact pack. The product listing for the unroasted variety also includes storage advice.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands lists unsalted cashews.

  • The product listing identifies the unsalted variety.
  • Unsalted doesn’t mean a product is free from cashews or other specific allergens; check the packaging.

ALDI Nederland

ALDI Netherlands lists Trader Joe’s Roasted and Unsalted Cashews, 250 g.

  • The product name specifies both the preparation and the unsalted variety, as well as the pack size.
  • The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warning from May 2026 concerned a separate 170 g pack. Don’t assume it applies to other varieties without checking.

PLUS

PLUS lists a 200 g bag of unsalted, unroasted cashews.

  • The product listing specifies both product features and the pack size.
  • These features don’t confirm that the product is suitable for a specific dietary requirement. PLUS says that product and allergen information may change.

Cashew nuts at Joybuy

These products are cashews for people who can eat cashews; they differ in factors such as roasting, salt and pack size. None of the cashew products listed are suitable if you need to avoid cashews.

Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g

Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g

This variety may suit you if you can eat cashews and are looking for a 160 g pack. It isn’t suitable if you need to avoid cashews.

The product information lists cashews as an ingredient and allergen. Check the packaging for other specific dietary requirements.

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

g’woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted, 200 g

If you can eat cashews and are looking for a roasted, unsalted variety, the product title specifies both features and a pack size of 200 g.

The product information lists cashews and tree nuts as allergens; this isn’t a cashew-free option.

View at Joybuy
Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g

Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g

This variety may suit you if you can eat cashews and are looking for a roasted flavour; it isn’t unsalted.

The product information lists salt, a savoury seasoning mix and allergen information for cashews, gluten, wheat and peanuts. Check the exact pack if you have other dietary requirements.

View at Joybuy
Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts, 150 g

Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts, 150 g

If you can eat cashews and are looking for a salted variety, the product title specifies salted cashews and a pack size of 150 g.

The product information lists cashews; this isn’t suitable if you need to avoid cashews.

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

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

This variety may suit you if you can eat cashews and are looking for the stated pack size of 500 g.

The product information lists salt and cashews. This isn’t an unsalted or cashew-free option; check the label for other dietary requirements.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are cashews an allergen-free snack for school?

No. Cashews are themselves a tree nut allergen. If you need to avoid cashews, don’t choose them. For other exclusions, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.

Is a warning about possible cross-contamination the same as an ingredient?

No. An ingredients list and a warning about possible unintended presence provide different information. Check both separately for the allergen you need to avoid. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that Dutch rules for warnings about the unintended presence of allergens apply from 1 January 2026.

What allergen information should I check on a pre-packed product?

Check the allergen information on the label of the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products; allergens that must be listed include nuts, peanuts and milk.

Can I take cashews to my school?

That depends on the rules for your school and the occasion. Check the rules for lunchboxes, the classroom or treats before buying cashews. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that schools can decide what may and may not be given as a treat.

Can young children eat whole cashews?

Jong JGZ advises giving children under 4 nut butter rather than whole nuts because of the risk of choking. Choosing a different form doesn’t make a product containing cashews cashew-free.

What should I do if my pack matches the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warning for Trader Joe’s cashews?

Don’t eat the pack if it matches the warning for the 170 g unsalted variety, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The warning from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority applies to that specific pack and shouldn’t be assumed to apply to other varieties without checking.