Parents looking to introduce cashews safely
You’re looking for cashews to use as one of your baby’s first solid foods and want to know how to prepare them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4.
Who is this buying guide for?
Parents who want to compare labels
You want to distinguish between ingredients, potential allergens and additives. Product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo shows that cashew products can vary in their composition.
Families choosing snacks for themselves
You may also be looking for cashews for adults, but don’t want to confuse your snack choice with a suitable form for your baby. Duyvis describes its Cashews Original as savoury and oven-roasted; the Albert Heijn listing reviewed is for a salted variety.
What should you look for when buying?
Start by checking the form and how the cashews are prepared. Then compare the labels and always check the energy value per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Are you buying butter or whole nuts? Decide how to prepare the cashews so they’re suitable to add to food. | When I buy cashews for my baby, I want to know how to prepare and serve them. Around 33% of consumers prioritise the form in which a product is sold. |
| Energy content | Compare kcal per 100 g; a smaller portion doesn’t change the value per 100 g. | When I look for ‘low calorie’ products, I want to know the actual energy content. Around 27% of consumers prioritise energy content and what that claim means. |
| Allergens | Read both the ingredients and the information about the possible presence of other allergens. | When I check a label for my family, I want to distinguish cashews from any other potential allergens. Around 20% of consumers prioritise checking for allergens. |
| Ingredients | Check the full ingredients list; ‘unsalted’ doesn’t tell you whether oil has been added. | When I look for a product with a short ingredients list, I want to know whether anything besides cashews has been added. Around 20% of consumers prioritise ingredients and ease of preparation. |
Common buying mistakes
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Treating whole cashews as finger food for babies
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4.
Buy a form you can prepare, or grind the nuts finely before mixing them into food.
Preparing whole nuts yourself takes extra time.
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Confusing ‘unsalted’ or ‘no added oil’ with low calorie
These descriptions don’t mean a product meets the ‘low energy’ claim. The AH cashew butter reviewed contains 612 kcal per 100 g, while the PLUS cashews reviewed contain 598 kcal per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for this claim.
Compare the energy value per 100 g and consider preparation claims separately from energy claims.
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Assuming ‘100% cashew’ means there are no other allergens
An ingredients list containing only cashews doesn’t rule out a separate warning about the possible presence of other allergens. Albert Heijn’s product information mentions the possible presence of peanuts.
Read the ingredients and allergen information separately. The NVWA explains that allergens must be clearly and correctly declared on the label.
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Checking a recall warning by brand name alone
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerned 170 g packs of Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews with barcode 2003020120930 and a best-before date of 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments.
Check the packaging against the barcode and best-before date given. Do not eat a pack that matches the warning.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
AH Terra Plantaardig 100% cashew butter is a prepared cashew option.
- The product information lists cashews as the only ingredient.
- The stated energy value is 612 kcal per 100 g; check the allergen information too.
Jumbo
The 200 g pack of unsalted cashews reviewed is a product you can prepare yourself.
- The label states that it contains 99% cashews.
- The product also contains sunflower oil and has an energy value of 622 kcal per 100 g.
PLUS
The 200 g pack of unroasted, unsalted cashews reviewed is intended for you to prepare yourself.
- The product information lists cashews as an ingredient.
- Whole nuts aren’t suitable for children under 4; the stated energy value is 598 kcal per 100 g.
Duyvis
Cashews Original is a savoury snack range for adults.
- Duyvis says the cashews are oven-roasted without added oil.
- The Albert Heijn listing reviewed is for a salted variety; the preparation claim doesn’t prove that the product is low in calories.
Lidl
Lidl lists cashew products under Alesto, including Way To Go cashews.
- Lidl describes its Way To Go cashews as Fairtrade.
- This product description doesn’t tell you whether the form is suitable for a baby or what the energy content is.
ALDI
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
- The product listing describes roasted, unsalted cashews.
- That description alone says nothing about the energy content or whether the texture is suitable for a baby.
Cashew products at Joybuy
This Joybuy selection consists of whole cashews that you’ll need to grind before use. They aren’t ready-made baby food and aren’t described here as low calorie.
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g'woon roasted, unsalted cashews, 200 g
Use as an ingredient after grinding; don’t give whole nuts to children under 4.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour large cashews, 160 g
Use as an ingredient after grinding; don’t give whole nuts to children under 4.
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Be&Cheery cashews with purple skin, grade 180, 500 g
Use as an ingredient after grinding; don’t give whole nuts to children under 4.
Frequently asked questions
Are cashews low in calories?
The cashew products reviewed aren’t low in calories. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for the ‘low energy’ claim; a smaller portion doesn’t change the energy value per 100 g.
Can I give whole cashews to my baby?
No. Don’t give whole nuts to children under 4. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises preparing cashews appropriately before adding them to food.
Can I serve a spoonful of cashew butter on its own?
Don’t serve nut butter as a thick spoonful on its own. The UK NHS warns that eating nut butter on its own can pose a choking risk; this is additional UK health advice, not a Dutch legal requirement.
Does the peanut introduction schedule also apply to cashews?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s published schedule covers peanuts and eggs, not cashews. So don’t treat it as a proven schedule for introducing cashews. For severe eczema or a food allergy, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends speaking to a doctor or dietitian.
Which cashews were covered by the NVWA warning?
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerned 170 g packs of Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews with barcode 2003020120930 and a best-before date of 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Do not eat a pack that matches these details.