Let allergies, school policies and safe eating guide your decision on whether cashew nuts are suitable for treat bags. Then compare fat and energy per 100 g: unsalted or made without added oil does not automatically mean lower in fat. Keep the portions you hand out small; a smaller portion does not change the nutritional values per 100 g.
You want your treats to suit the children and comply with school policies. Ask about allergies and bear in mind the risk posed by whole nuts. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises supervising children while they eat, while Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4.
You’re looking for a lighter snack and want to know what terms such as low-fat, unsalted and no added oil really mean. The European Commission distinguishes between a low-fat claim and a reduced-fat claim.
You want to choose a pack that suits the number of treats you’re preparing, without buying more than you need. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treat portions; Jumbo, PLUS and ALDI list packs in a range of sizes.
First check whether cashew nuts are suitable for the recipients and comply with the school’s rules. Then compare the product features.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Which consumers is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Handing out treats safely | Ask about allergies and school policies; consider the children’s ages and supervise them while they eat. | I want to know in advance whether the children can eat cashew nuts, and whether whole nuts are suitable for their age and the occasion. Around 31% of consumers put safe distribution first. |
| Fat content | Compare the fat and energy per 100 g on the label of the exact variant. | I want to be able to tell whether the product itself contains less fat, not just whether oil has been added. Around 31% of consumers give demonstrably lower fat content top priority. |
| Salt or flavour variant | Check the variant name and read the ingredients and nutritional information. | I’m specifically looking for unsalted cashew nuts or, alternatively, a savoury variety, regardless of the fat content. Around 19% of consumers put an unsalted recipe first. |
| Portions and packaging | First decide how many people you’re catering for and what portion size you want; then compare the net weight. | I want to prepare small portions without buying more than I need. Around 19% of consumers give portion planning top priority. |
Whole nuts can pose a choking risk, and cashew nuts are not suitable for children with a relevant nut allergy.
First check with the school whether any children have allergies and what treat policies apply. Also consider the children’s ages and the circumstances in which they’ll be eating.
These descriptions relate to salt or preparation; they don’t prove that the total fat content is lower.
Compare the nutritional values of the exact variants per 100 g. Assess fat and energy separately, and don’t mistake a description of how a product is made for a nutrition claim.
Different portion sizes make it difficult to compare the composition of products.
First compare products per 100 g, then decide separately how much you want to hand out as a treat.
The pack may contain more than you need for the number of treats you’re preparing.
First decide how many small portions you want to make, then choose a pack that suits your needs.
Duyvis describes its Cashews Original as oven-roasted with no added oil.
The product page lists an unsalted AH variant.
Jumbo lists a 200 g unsalted cashew variant.
Lidl describes unsalted and spicy roasted cashew variants.
ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S roasted, unsalted cashew nuts in a 250 g pack.
PLUS lists unsalted, unroasted cashew nuts in a 200 g bag.
The cashew nuts shown vary in how they’re prepared and packaged. Unsalted or made without added oil does not in itself mean that the fat content has been reduced.
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Ideal if you’re looking for cashew nuts with no ingredients other than cashew kernels, and want the pack size to suit your portion plan.
The ingredients list states 100% cashew kernels; the pack contains 160 g.
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Ideal if you’re looking for cashew nuts prepared without added fat or oil.
The product description states that they’re oven-roasted without added fat or oil, and gives 43 g of fat and 586 kcal per 100 g. The pack contains 125 g, and the description gives 4–5 servings.
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Ideal if you’re looking for a salted variety and want to factor the pack size into your portion plan.
The ingredients list names cashew nuts, sunflower oil and salt; the nutritional information gives 48 g of fat per 100 g. The pack contains 150 g.
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Ideal if you’re specifically looking for an unsalted variety.
The product information gives 46.67 g of fat and 596 kcal per 100 g. The pack contains 200 g.
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Ideal if you’re looking for salted cashew nuts with their skins on in a 120 g pack.
The product information gives 42.9 g of fat and 596 kcal per 100 g; the ingredients list cashew nuts and salt.
No. Unsalted does not in itself mean a lower fat content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 12.2 g of fat per 25 g handful of unsalted cashew nuts. This is general nutritional information, not a figure that applies to every brand or variant.
According to the European Commission, solid foods can only carry a low-fat claim if they contain no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. This is a different claim from reduced fat. For the latter, check the information for the exact variant and the comparison on which the claim is based.
Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4 because of the risk of choking. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises supervising older children while they eat. Nut butter is not an alternative for a child with a relevant nut allergy.
Ask what treat or celebration policies apply and whether there are any allergies you need to take into account. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, school policies may determine what can and cannot be handed out as a treat; this is not blanket permission to distribute cashew nuts nationwide. Also check the current allergen information on the pack.
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns TRADER JOE'S unsalted cashew nuts, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and a best-before date of 23-09-2026. Do not eat that specific pack; the warning does not automatically apply to all ALDI cashew nuts.
