Regular evening snackers
If your household eats cashews regularly, choose a pack size that matches how much you’ll actually use. Compare the pack with your consumption, not just the ‘value’ label.
Who is a value pack suitable for?
Mindful portion choosers
If you want to pay attention to the ingredients and choose your own snack portion, check whether the variety is unsalted and read the ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in the Wheel of Five; this isn’t advice about any special effect of snacking just before bedtime.
Those who like a variety of snacks
If you don’t eat cashews every evening, think about how much you want to open at once and whether you’ll also use them for things like cooking. Follow the storage instructions on your chosen pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, consider how many cashews your household will actually use. Then check the variety, ingredients and storage instructions for that specific pack.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and consumption | Net weight and how often your household eats cashews. | If I reach for cashews regularly, I want to know whether the bag suits how much we’ll use; around 28% of consumers prioritise having a useful supply. |
| Ingredients and portion size | Whether the variety is unsalted and which ingredients are listed on the label. | If I want to snack mindfully, I want to be able to assess the ingredients and choose my own portion; around 22% of consumers prioritise ingredients and portion size. |
| Storage after opening | The storage instructions for the specific pack and the stated best-before date. | If I open a large bag, I want to know how to store the rest; around 22% of consumers prioritise keeping their opened supply in good condition. |
| Preparation and flavour | Whether the nuts are roasted or unroasted, and whether salt or other flavouring ingredients are listed. | If I’m looking for a particular savoury or roasted flavour, I check the preparation method and ingredients separately; around 17% of consumers prioritise flavour. |
| Certification and origin | Whether a certification mark is listed for the specific variety. | If a verifiable certification mark matters to me, I want to see it on the product itself; around 11% of consumers prioritise certified origin. |
Common mistakes when choosing
-
Assuming a larger pack is always a better choice
A larger bag only suits your needs if you’ll use all of it. Otherwise, you may end up with leftovers that are harder to use.
Check the net weight and estimate how much your household will actually use before choosing a large pack.
-
Reading ‘no added oil’ as ‘unsalted’
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted with no added oil, but salt is listed in the ingredients.
Read the preparation claim and the ingredients separately, and check the exact variety.
-
Assuming packaging features guarantee freshness after opening
Jumbo states that its 500 g pack of unsalted cashews is packed in a protective atmosphere. This alone doesn’t tell you how long the nuts will keep after opening.
Seal the pack carefully and follow the storage instructions on the product.
-
Confusing a future target with a current product certification
In 2024, CBL described an industry ambition to have own-brand cashew snack nuts sustainably certified by 2030. This ambition doesn’t confirm that every current product already carries a certification mark.
Check whether the certification mark is listed for the specific variety.
Brands and varieties to help you choose
Albert Heijn
Worth considering for AH Terra Unroasted Cashews, including a listed 500 g pack.
- The product information lists an unroasted variety.
- Unroasted doesn’t automatically mean unsalted; check both characteristics on the pack.
Jumbo
The range includes unsalted and salted cashews in a 500 g value pack.
- The 500 g unsalted variety is listed as packed in a protective atmosphere.
- This packaging information doesn’t tell you how long the nuts will keep after opening; also choose carefully between the salted and unsalted varieties.
Aldi
Aldi lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
- The product name makes it clear that the nuts are roasted and unsalted.
- An NVWA warning concerned a specific 170 g pack of unsalted cashews; it doesn’t automatically apply to other varieties or pack sizes.
Lidl
Lidl lists Alesto and the Fairtrade cashews from its Way To Go range.
- Lidl states that Way To Go cashews are Fairtrade.
- This listing for the product range doesn’t confirm that all Alesto cashews carry the same certification mark.
PLUS
The range includes 200 g packs of unsalted, unroasted cashews and a 200 g salted Fairtrade variety.
- For the Fairtrade variety, PLUS lists Flocert as the certifying body.
- The Fairtrade variety is salted; the certification mark doesn’t mean the ingredients are unsalted.
Duyvis
Cashews Original comes in a smaller 125 g snack pack.
- Duyvis states that its Original cashews are oven-roasted without added oil.
- The ingredients include salt and flavourings, so this variety isn’t the same as unsalted cashews.
Cashews at Joybuy
This selection includes salted cashews, including large packs, as well as a roasted, unsalted variety. Smaller packs are also available.
No image available
Three Squirrels Purple-Shell Cashews, 500 g
The 500 g pack is a good fit if you’re looking for a larger supply of salted cashews to snack on.
Contains cashews and salt. The product description advises eating the nuts straight after opening.
No image available
Be&Cheery cashews with purple skin, 180 grade, 500 g
These salted cashews come in a 500 g pack, making them a good option if you’re looking for a larger supply of snacks.
Contains salt; this is not an unsalted variety.
No image available
Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g
The 160 g pack is a smaller amount for snacking or adding to dishes.
The product description lists cashew kernels as an ingredient and suggests enjoying them as a snack, with yoghurt or muesli, or in baking.
No image available
g’woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted, 200 g
The product name describes roasted, unsalted cashews in a 200 g pack.
The description suggests using them for snacking, cooking and baking. Seal the pack tightly after opening.
No image available
Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts, 150 g
These roasted, salted cashews come in a 150 g pack and are ready to eat as a snack.
The ingredients include cashews, sunflower oil and salt. Seal the pack tightly after opening and store in a cool, dry place.
Frequently asked questions
How can you tell if 500 g is too much to buy?
Work it out based on your own snack portion and how much your household uses. As an example, not dietary advice: at 25 g per snack, 500 g gives you twenty portions of that size, while 250 g gives you ten. How long your supply lasts depends on how often you eat it and how many people share it.
How should you store an opened bag of cashews?
Follow the instructions for the specific product. Noten.nl recommends storing its own products in an airtight container in a cool, dark place; PLUS advises storing the Fairtrade variety reviewed in a dry, dark place. Don’t assume that storage advice from another supplier applies to your product.
What allergen information should you check for cashews?
Check the label and product information for allergens. The NVWA states that allergen information must be shown on the label of prepacked products and that allergens in the ingredients must be clearly identifiable. Unsalted or unroasted cashews are not an alternative for anyone who needs to avoid cashews.
Which Trader Joe’s cashews does the NVWA warning apply to?
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews in a 170 g pack, EAN 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026. The NVWA reported possible metal fragments and advised people not to eat these specific cashews. The warning doesn’t automatically apply to other pack sizes or varieties.
What product information should be available when you shop online?
Dutch business guidance lists information for prepacked foods including the product name, net quantity, ingredients, allergens and nutritional value. This information must be available in Dutch and provided online too. Check the details for the specific product you intend to buy.