Student checking dietary claims
You can eat cashews but are specifically looking for gluten-free or lactose-free products. Also check the ingredients and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Who are these options relevant to?
Cook keeping an eye on quantity
You use cashew nuts in evening meals and want to choose a pack size that suits how much you actually use.
Housemates who cook together
You cook and eat with other people, and want to agree in advance on which ingredients everyone can tolerate. A general claim that a product is allergen-free is no substitute for checking.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that cashews themselves and any warnings are suitable for your circumstances. Then compare the preparation method and pack size with what you need for your meal and how you plan to use them.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary claims and allergens | Check the exact variety, ingredients and warnings on the packaging. | If I need a specific dietary claim, I also want to know whether cashews or another named allergen may be present. Around 34% of consumers put suitability for their dietary needs first. |
| Pack size | Choose a weight that suits how often you use cashew nuts and how much you get through. | If I buy cashew nuts for my evening meals, I want a quantity that suits how I use them. Around 33% of consumers focus mainly on matching pack size to usage. |
| Preparation method | Check whether the nuts are unroasted, fried, roasted or seasoned, and read the ingredients. | If I use cashew nuts as an ingredient, it matters whether I want an unseasoned variety or a savoury snack. Around 20% of consumers choose mainly by preparation method. |
| Storage and sharing | Follow the storage instructions on the label and discuss dietary needs before cooking together. | If I share a pack with housemates, I want to know in advance whether the ingredients suit everyone and how to store the nuts. Around 13% of consumers focus mainly on storage and shared use. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘free from’ means free from all allergens
A gluten-free or lactose-free claim does not remove the cashew allergen. Any warning about the possible presence of other allergens also needs to be considered separately.
First identify which ingredient you need to avoid, then check the information for the exact variety. Don’t treat a dietary claim as a general promise that a product is allergen-free.
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Confusing roasted without added oil with unsalted or gluten-free
Preparation method, salt and allergens are different properties. The Jumbo product page for Duyvis Oven Roasted Gezouten Cashews lists salt and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and wheat.
Check ingredients and allergens separately from any description of the preparation method or oil.
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Assuming a safety warning applies to all packs
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. These details apply to that specific pack, not automatically to other sizes.
Compare the brand, weight, barcode and best-before date with the warning. Do not eat a pack that matches the warning exactly, even if its best-before date has passed.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The Dutch product pages for two varieties list them as gluten-free and lactose-free: AH Terra Ungebrande Cashewnoten and AH Ongezouten Cashewnoten.
- The first variety is unroasted and unsalted; according to the product page, the second contains sunflower oil.
- Both contain cashews. The product information also includes warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Jumbo
The product information for the 200 g pack of unsalted cashew nuts lists cashews and sunflower oil as ingredients.
- The ingredient information makes it clear that unsalted does not mean no added oil.
- The product page lists cashews and the possible presence of nuts and peanuts. This is not a general allergen-free claim.
PLUS
The retailer describes the checked 200 g unroasted, unsalted variety as vegan and vegetarian.
- The preparation method and product claims give you useful points of comparison when choosing a variety to suit your meal.
- The product information lists cashew nuts and the possible presence of peanuts; the dietary claims do not make the product allergen-free.
ALDI
The product listing checked was for a 250 g pack of roasted, unsalted cashews, listed under the Trader Joe’s brand name on the product page.
- The product description states the preparation method and pack weight.
- A safety warning for a 170 g pack does not automatically apply to other sizes. Check the details on the pack.
Lidl
The Dutch range page lists 500 g packs of unsalted cashew nuts, available in store only.
- The pack weight is stated, so you can match it to how often you use the nuts.
- On its own, ‘unsalted’ says nothing about gluten, lactose or suitability for anyone with an allergy.
Duyvis
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted, with a savoury flavour and no added oil.
- The manufacturer’s product description gives information about preparation and flavour.
- The Jumbo product page for Duyvis Oven Roasted Gezouten Cashews lists salt and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, peanuts and wheat. This is a different variety; don’t treat a description of the oil as allergen information.
Cashew nuts at Joybuy
This selection includes cashew nuts to eat straight away, enjoy as a snack, or use in meals and baking. Check the ingredients and listed properties for each product.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large cashew nuts, 160 g
The product information suggests using them in yoghurt, muesli, baking and desserts.
The description lists cashews as the only ingredient; cashews are also listed as an allergen.
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Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts, 150 g
The product information suggests them as a snack, for sharing, baking and cooking.
Cashews and salt are listed as ingredients.
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g'woon roasted, unsalted cashew nuts, 200 g
The product description suggests them as a snack or for cooking and baking.
The title and product information describe the cashew nuts as roasted and unsalted.
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Be&Cheery cashews with purple skin, 180 grade, 500 g
The product information suggests them as a snack, for sharing, baking and cooking.
The ingredient information lists cashews and salt.
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Xue Ji Chaohuo Salted Cashews with Skin, 120 g
The product information suggests eating them straight from the pack or adding them to meals.
Cashews and salt are listed as ingredients.
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Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g
The product information describes these oven-roasted cashews as a savoury snack.
The product information lists cashews, gluten, wheat, peanuts and salt. Check these details if you need to avoid any ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
What allergen information must appear on packaging in the Netherlands?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label. Cashews are among the nuts that must be declared; also check all the information on the specific pack.
Does lactose-free also mean a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No. A lactose-free claim does not prove that a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy. Lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar, while a milk allergy concerns milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information separately.
Is ‘gluten-free’ just a marketing term?
No. European Implementing Regulation 828/2014 sets out requirements for information about the absence or reduced presence of gluten and has applied since 20 July 2016. However, check that the claim applies to the exact product variety.
Have the Dutch rules for warnings about unintended allergens changed?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, new rules have applied to how and when food businesses warn about allergens that may be present unintentionally. The NVWA has been enforcing these rules since 2026, so don’t rely solely on older guidance about such warnings.
How should I store Duyvis Oven Roasted Gezouten Cashews after opening?
Follow the advice on the exact pack. The Jumbo product page recommends storing this variety in a cool, dry place and putting an opened bag in a light-proof, airtight container.
Which ALDI pack was covered by the NVWA warning?
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to the possible presence of metal fragments. Do not eat that specific pack; the fact that its best-before date has passed does not invalidate the warning if you still have it.