Choose based on the ingredients, salt content and portion size you’ll take with you; the protein per 100 g alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll eat on the way. The four variants checked provide around 4.6–5.3 g of protein per 25 g serving, but they don’t meet the European requirement for the ‘high protein’ claim: at least 20% of the energy must come from protein. The nutritional values are taken from product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS, Jumbo and Flink Nederland; the claim requirement is explained by the European Commission, DG SANTE. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise don’t need special protein products if they eat a healthy, varied diet.
You want to know how much protein a handful provides and whether the ‘high protein’ claim applies to a particular variant. Compare labels using the same serving size; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, nutritional information about cashew nuts is not proof of a guaranteed recovery benefit.
You’re looking for a nut snack with no added salt and want to distinguish between cashew nuts as the sole ingredient and variants containing oil. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in the Dutch Wheel of Five healthy eating guidelines.
You’re dividing a pack between several walks. Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the pack; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that nuts that are rancid, tough or mouldy can indicate a loss of quality or spoilage.
Choose this if: you want cashew nuts with no added salt or oil as an ingredient.
Bear in mind: the PLUS variant checked contains 18.5 g of protein per 100 g. This doesn’t make it ‘high protein’ under the European claim requirement of 20% of energy coming from protein. Product information from PLUS and the European Commission, DG SANTE, supports this comparison.
Choose this if: unsalted is important to you and you don’t mind sunflower oil being on the ingredients list.
Bear in mind: the AH and Jumbo variants checked list sunflower oil. Their product information gives around 4.75 g and 5.25 g of protein per 25 g respectively; these figures alone don’t tell you anything about recovery or walking performance.
Choose this if: a savoury flavour matters more to you than an unsalted recipe.
Bear in mind: according to product information from Flink Nederland, the Duyvis Oven Roasted Gezouten variant checked contains 1.5 g of salt and 604 kcal per 100 g. Duyvis’ description of Cashews Original as roasted without added oil doesn’t automatically apply to this salted variant.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay extra attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per serving | Compare the protein value for the same serving size, such as 25 g. The PLUS, AH, Jumbo and Duyvis labels checked give around 4.6–5.3 g for that amount; according to the European Commission, DG SANTE, the ‘high protein’ claim requires at least 20% of the energy to come from protein. | When I choose a snack to take with me, I want to know what my own portion provides, rather than looking only at the value per 100 g. Protein content is a priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and check the salt content of the exact variant. ‘Unsalted’, ‘unroasted’ and ‘no added oil’ describe different things. | If I don’t want added salt, I also check whether the product contains oil or a seasoning mix. Around 33% of consumers focus mainly on salt and ingredients. |
| Portions and storage | Compare the pack weight with the amount you want to take with you, and follow the storage instructions after opening. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that nuts that are rancid, tough or mouldy are signs to look out for. | If I divide a pack between several walks, I want to be able to take the portions with me and seal the rest properly. For around 25% of consumers, portions and storage are the main things to consider. |
The fact that a snack contains protein doesn’t prove that you need it after a walk. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that most people who exercise don’t need special protein shakes or bars if they eat a healthy, varied diet.
Consider what the portion adds to your usual diet, and don’t assume it guarantees better recovery or performance.
According to Flink Nederland, the Duyvis Oven Roasted Gezouten variant checked contains 604 kcal and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g. So the preparation method alone doesn’t tell you how much energy or salt the variant contains.
Compare the nutritional values for the exact variant separately from the description of how it’s prepared.
The packs checked range from 125 to 500 g, while the product comparison uses a 25 g serving. Product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS, Jumbo and Flink Nederland shows why net weight and serving size aren’t the same thing.
Decide in advance how much you want to take with you, and seal the rest according to the instructions on the pack.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a savoury, oven-roasted variant. Duyvis describes Cashews Original as roasted without added oil.
The AH Cashewnoten ongezouten variant checked is a roasted product in a 170 g pack, with a stated serving size of 25 g.
The 500 g unsalted value pack checked is worth considering if you want to divide your cashew nuts between several walks.
The Dutch product page identifies a variant as unsalted cashew nuts.
ALDI Nederland’s product page describes Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashew nuts in a 250 g pack.
The 200 g PLUS Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand variant checked is a good fit if you want cashew nuts as the only ingredient.
These Joybuy products are cashew variants for anyone who wants to take a snack along on a walk; they differ in flavour, preparation method and pack size, among other things.
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A 160 g pack of cashew nuts to take with you as a snack.
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A dry-roasted variant in a 125 g pack. If you have a relevant allergy, check the product information, which lists ingredients including gluten, wheat and peanuts.
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A salted cashew variant in a 150 g pack; check the salt content if it’s important to your choice.
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A roasted, unsalted variant in a 200 g pack for you to portion yourself.
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A salted cashew variant with purple skin, in a 500 g pack for you to divide into portions. The product information lists 1.2 g of salt per 100 g.
No. For the ‘high protein’ claim, it’s the proportion of energy that comes from protein that counts, not just the number of grams per 100 g. The European Commission, DG SANTE, sets 20% as the requirement; the variants checked in this guide fall short of it.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 5.3 g of protein for a 25 g handful. That’s an average for the category; the product labels checked give around 4.6–5.3 g for the same amount.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise don’t need special protein shakes or bars if they eat a healthy, varied diet. So choose cashew nuts based on your usual diet and what you want to take with you on your walk.
Check the allergen information on the pack of the exact variant. The NVWA states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products; the product information for the PLUS variant checked says it may contain peanuts. Don’t choose based only on terms such as ‘unsalted’ or ‘roasted’.
No. The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashew nuts in a 170 g pack with a best-before date of 23-09-2026 and warns of possible metal fragments. Don’t eat a pack that matches this description; the warning doesn’t automatically apply to other packs.
