Hosts comparing pack sizes
You’re looking for enough cashews for a birthday get-together and want to weigh up the contents of one large bag against several smaller packs. Jumbo and ALDI list different pack sizes and varieties.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Households looking to store opened leftovers
You don’t want to open more than you need and are looking for cashews you can use later. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre offers storage advice for opened, unsalted cashews.
Hosts with guests who need extra consideration
You want to take account of guests with a nut allergy and young children. Check the allergen information on the packaging and bear Jumbo’s warning about choking on nuts in mind.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, work out how many cashews you expect to serve and whether you want to offer one flavour or several varieties. The percentages below highlight different initial considerations when choosing snacks for your get-together.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who should pay extra attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the total weight and the same flavour variety; two 250 g packs contain 500 g in total. | I want to put out enough without opening more than we’re likely to use. Around 31% of consumers focus mainly on the quantity and choosing a suitable amount. |
| Opening in stages and storage | Check the pack size and follow the storage advice once opened. | I want to be able to leave some packs unopened and use leftovers later. Around 25% of consumers prioritise limiting and storing leftovers. |
| Flavour and salt | Check whether the variety is unsalted, salted or seasoned, and read the ingredients and nutritional information. | I want to choose a flavour that suits the occasion without mistaking a preparation method for a claim about salt. Around 19% of consumers focus mainly on flavour and salt content. |
| Serving safely | Check the allergen information and bear the warning about young children in mind. | I want to know in advance whether a snack is suitable for my guests, and not offer whole nuts to young children without supervision. Around 13% of consumers put safe serving first. |
| Certification | Look for the certification statement on the exact pack; a supply-chain target is not the same as a product certification. | I only want to choose a product if its certification clearly applies to that product. Around 12% of consumers focus mainly on this. |
Pitfalls to avoid when choosing
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Assuming a warning applies to a whole brand
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority issued a warning about Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026. The warning applies to the specified pack, not to all cashews from the brand.
If you happen to have older stock, check the product name, barcode and best-before date. Do not eat any pack that matches the warning.
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Assuming a bigger bag is always the better choice
A large pack means more nuts to store once opened. That’s less practical if you only need some of them or can’t store the rest properly.
Estimate how much you’ll serve and consider smaller packs if you’d rather open them one at a time. Follow the storage advice after opening.
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Confusing oven-roasted with unsalted
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil, but also lists a savoury flavour and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for this specific variety.
Check the variety name, ingredients and nutritional information. A preparation claim alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is unsalted.
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Mistaking a future target for a current certification
The Central Bureau of Food Trade’s target for 2030 does not confirm that every own-brand pack currently carries certification.
Check the certification statement on the pack you intend to buy.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
Jumbo lists salted and unsalted cashews in 500 g value packs, as well as smaller varieties.
- The two 500 g flavour options let you choose the pack size and flavour separately.
- The product listing for the unsalted variety mentions naturally occurring sodium, so unsalted doesn’t mean you can skip the nutritional information.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Terra Unroasted Cashews in a 500 g pack.
- An unroasted variety offers an alternative to salted or flavoured cashews for snacking.
- The product listing alone doesn’t tell you what flavours your guests will prefer.
ALDI
ALDI’s Trader Joe’s range includes 250 g packs of roasted, unsalted cashews and a range of 500 g packs in salted and unsalted varieties.
- The smaller pack can be handy if you want to leave some unopened.
- The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s warning about the specific 170 g pack does not automatically apply to these other packs.
Duyvis
Duyvis Cashews Original is a savoury cashew variety in a 125 g pack.
- Duyvis says this variety is roasted without added oil; the manufacturer lists it as 98% cashews.
- Duyvis lists 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for this specific variety. Its preparation method doesn’t make it an unsalted product.
PLUS
PLUS lists a 200 g variety of salted Fairtrade cashews.
- The certification statement is relevant if you choose this specific product variety.
- The statement does not automatically apply to all cashews from PLUS.
Lidl
Lidl describes its Way To Go cashews as a Fairtrade choice.
- The range is worth considering if you’re looking for an explicit certification statement.
- Check the exact pack and product information to confirm which claims apply to it.
Cashews at Joybuy
This Joybuy selection includes a 500 g pack of salted cashews and smaller packs with different flavour and preparation descriptions.
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Be&Cheery Cashews with Purple Skin 180 grade 500g
The 500 g salted variety is a good choice if you want to put a larger pack on the snack table.
The product name specifies purple skin, 180 grade and 500 g; the product information describes the cashews as salted.
Contains cashews and is not suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts 160g
The 160 g pack is a smaller option to serve straight away or open when you need it.
The product information lists cashew kernels as an ingredient and says the nuts are ready to eat.
Contains cashew kernels and is not suitable for guests who need to avoid cashews.
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Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews 125 g
The 125 g pack is a smaller option for adding a savoury snack to the table.
The product name describes the cashews as dry roasted.
Contains cashews and is not suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
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Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts 150 g
The 150 g salted pack is a good choice if you want to serve a smaller snack option.
The product name describes the cashews as salted; the product information says they are roasted.
Contains cashews and is not suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
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g'woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted 200g
This 200 g pack of unsalted cashews is a good choice if you’d like an unsalted option to use after the get-together too.
The product name describes the cashews as roasted and unsalted; the ingredients list cashews.
Contains cashews and is not suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
Frequently asked questions
How many cashews should I buy for my birthday get-together?
First, work out how many guests will want cashews and how many other snacks you’ll be serving. Then choose how much you want to serve and calculate how many packs you’ll need. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s daily recommendation for unsalted nuts isn’t a serving guide for a birthday get-together.
How should I store unsalted cashews once opened?
For opened, unsalted cashews, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a kitchen cupboard for six months or in the freezer for one year. Follow the instructions on the packaging too; these storage times aren’t a guarantee for nuts that have already been sitting out on the table. Look out for changes such as a rancid smell or taste, a tough texture or mould.
Can I serve cashews to a child with a nut allergy?
Not if the child has been advised to avoid nuts as part of their treatment plan. Jeroen Bosch Hospital also advises children with a nut allergy to avoid foods that may contain traces of nuts. Choosing an unsalted or roasted variety doesn’t change this.
What should I bear in mind when young children are eating too?
Jumbo warns that young children can choke on nuts. Don’t assume whole cashews are suitable for young children; offer them a suitable alternative if needed.
What should I do about the warning for Trader Joe’s cashews?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority issued a warning about Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026: do not eat the affected pack. The warning does not automatically apply to other pack sizes or varieties.