Don’t choose cashew nuts based on a broad term such as ‘free from’. Instead, check whether the specific variety is suitable for the ingredient you need to avoid. Cashew nuts are themselves a tree nut allergen, so read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging before choosing based on flavour, preparation method and pack size. For a gluten-free choice, the Dutch Coeliac Society advises checking the label and the Crossed Grain symbol.
If you’re looking for a gluten-free snack for the train and can eat cashew nuts, check the gluten-free statement and the label on the specific variety. The product name alone doesn’t tell you whether a pack meets your needs. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for the Crossed Grain symbol, among other things.
Read both the ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. Cashew nuts are themselves a tree nut allergen, so this snack category isn’t suitable if you need to avoid cashew nuts. The Dutch Nutrition Centre emphasises the importance of label information if you have a food allergy.
If you don’t need to avoid cashew nuts and are mainly looking for an unsalted snack, compare the specific variety and how much you want to take with you. Unsalted doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent.
| What you’re looking for | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing gluten-free | Check for a gluten-free statement or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the label on the specific pack. | If you need to avoid gluten, you’ll want to know whether this particular variety meets your needs. Around 40% of consumers put confirmed gluten-free suitability at the top of their list when buying. |
| Avoiding the right allergen | Identify which allergen you need to avoid and check the ingredients and cross-contamination warnings. Don’t choose cashew nuts if you’re allergic to them. | If you have another food allergy, you’ll also want to consider possible cross-contamination as well as the ingredients. Around 30% of consumers prioritise avoiding a specific allergen. |
| Taking them with you and storing them | Check the pack size and storage instructions, and consider how you’ll reseal the pack after opening. | If you want to take the snack with you and keep any leftovers, the pack size and storage advice for that specific variety matter. Around 20% of consumers prioritise convenience when travelling and storage. |
| Choosing unsalted | Check the variety name and label. Unsalted, unroasted and gluten-free are different properties. | If you mainly want an unsalted snack and don’t have a dietary requirement as your main concern, you can compare varieties by checking the label. Around 10% of consumers prioritise unsalted snacks. |
Cashew nuts are themselves a tree nut allergen. A broad statement doesn’t automatically mean that a product is suitable for someone who needs to avoid cashew nuts.
Be specific when making your choice: which ingredient do you need to avoid, and what does the packaging for this variety say about it?
The salt content and preparation method don’t tell you whether other ingredients are present or whether there’s a cross-contamination warning.
Check gluten-free information and allergens separately from flavour and preparation method.
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe’s Unsalted Cashew Nuts, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026. The warning mentions possible metal fragments and applies to that specific pack, not to all products from the brand.
If you have this exact pack, don’t eat it. Compare the product name, pack size, barcode and best-before date with the warning.
The size of a bag and the amount you want to eat during your journey are two different things. A larger pack also means you’ll need a plan for the leftovers.
Decide in advance how much you want to take with you, and follow the storage advice for the specific variety.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted, savoury and made without added oil.
AH Unsalted Cashew Nuts is an own-brand option to consider if you’re looking for unsalted cashew nuts.
Jumbo lists, among other options, unsalted cashew nuts in a 200 g pack and unroasted cashew nuts in a 140 g pack.
Lidl’s product page describes unsalted cashew nuts.
ALDI describes Trader Joe’s Unsalted Cashew Nuts in a 170 g pack.
PLUS describes unsalted, unroasted cashew nuts in a 200 g bag.
This selection includes plain, salted and unsalted cashew nuts. To make sure a product meets your dietary needs, always check the label and allergen information on the specific pack. The product name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s suitable for a free-from diet.
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The product description says these cashew nuts are ready to eat, making them a handy snack to take with you on the go.
Pack size: 160 g. Contains cashew nuts; not suitable if you need to avoid cashew nuts.
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The product information describes a savoury, oven-roasted cashew variety. Only consider it if the allergen information meets your dietary needs.
Pack size: 125 g. The allergen information lists cashew nuts, gluten, wheat and peanuts.
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If you’re looking for a salted variety, compare this product name with your flavour preference and the information on the packaging.
Pack size: 150 g. The product description recommends resealing the pack securely after opening.
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This variety is roasted and unsalted. It may suit you if that’s what you’re looking for, but this doesn’t tell you anything about other allergens.
Pack size: 200 g. The product information lists cashew and tree nuts as allergens.
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The product information describes these cashew nuts as lightly salted. Check the packaging if you want to match them to your salt preference.
The product title specifies 180 grade and a pack size of 500 g. The allergen information lists cashew nuts.
No. Cashew nuts are themselves a tree nut allergen. Identify the specific ingredient you need to avoid; if you’re allergic to cashew nuts, this category isn’t suitable for you.
Check the label on the specific variety and look for a gluten-free statement or the Crossed Grain symbol. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends checking for that symbol. The European Commission states that claims such as ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’ are subject to legal requirements; a general ‘free from’ term is different.
According to the NVWA, new rules have applied since 1 January 2026 on how and when food businesses must warn about the unintentional presence of allergens on labels. Such a warning concerns possible cross-contamination and is different from an ingredient that has been deliberately added.
Follow the storage advice for the specific variety. For its Unroasted Cashew Nuts 140 g, Jumbo recommends storage in a cool, dry, dark place. For Duyvis Oven Roasted Salted Cashew Nuts 125 g, Flink advises storing an opened bag in an airtight, light-proof container.
Contact the customer service team of the retailer in question and ask about the specific variety. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise checking the packaging before eating. Information about another variety or an older recipe doesn’t confirm what’s in the pack you have.
