Don’t serve cashews to a child who needs to avoid them: ‘free from’ doesn’t automatically mean free from all allergens. If there are other dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging, and agree the choice and how the food will be served with the parents. The Voedingscentrum advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4.
You want to avoid offering cashews to a guest who needs to avoid them. Start with the allergen and the arrangements agreed with the parents, not with a brand or a general ‘free from’ claim. Stichting Voedselallergie lists cashew as a relevant type of nut.
Cashews are allowed, but you’re looking for something suitable for another dietary restriction. Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact packaging; assess each allergen category separately. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains how allergens are labelled.
You want to choose a snack format that’s suitable for the ages of your guests. The Voedingscentrum advises against giving whole nuts or peanuts to children under 4 because of the risk of choking. Any alternative format must also fit the agreed dietary requirements.
First, ask which allergen or ingredient needs to be avoided and which snacks the parents consider suitable. Then check the packaging and how you’ll prepare and serve the food. The NVWA says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cashews and allergens | Ask which allergen needs to be avoided and which snack the parents consider suitable. Cashews are nuts themselves, so they’re not an alternative for anyone who needs to avoid cashews. | If a child needs to avoid cashews, I want to choose an agreed snack instead of cashews; around 36% of consumers give excluding cashews and relevant allergens top priority. |
| Other dietary requirements | Read the ingredients list, allergen warnings and any specific ‘free from’ claim on the same packaging and product variant. | If cashews are allowed but there’s another dietary restriction to consider, I want to check each pack to see whether it’s suitable; around 29% of consumers prioritise checking that specific dietary requirement. |
| Age and format | Check the child’s age and the format of the snack. The Voedingscentrum advises against giving whole nuts to children under 4. | For young guests, I want to know whether the snack format is suitable for their age; around 21% of consumers give age-appropriate formats top priority. |
| Preparation and serving | Agree the choice with the parents and use clean utensils. VieCuri highlights the risk of cross-contact through items such as knives and food residue. | If the snack is already suitable, I want to organise portions and serving carefully; around 14% of consumers prioritise the practical organisation of snack time. |
‘Unsalted’ describes the flavour, not the allergens. Jumbo’s 500 g Cashew Nuts Unsalted Value Pack contains cashews and, according to the product information, may also contain other nuts and peanuts.
First check which allergen needs to be avoided. Don’t choose based on flavour or preparation method alone.
A product that appears suitable based on its ingredients won’t automatically prevent cross-contact during preparation and serving. VieCuri highlights food residue on items such as knives as one thing to watch out for.
Agree with the parents which snack is suitable and follow the arrangements when preparing, portioning and serving it.
Separate preparation and careful serving require extra organisation.
The Voedingscentrum advises against giving whole nuts or peanuts to children under 4 because of the risk of choking. Choosing cashews in another format doesn’t make them suitable for a child who needs to avoid cashews.
Don’t give whole nuts to children under 4. If you choose an alternative, check that its ingredients fit the arrangements agreed with the parents.
Cereals containing gluten and nuts are different allergen categories. An NVWA warning issued on 9 September 2026 concerned a specific pack of AH Gluten-Free Speculaas Biscuits that may have contained undeclared almond. That warning doesn’t automatically apply to other gluten-free products.
Assess each relevant dietary restriction separately and check the information on the exact packaging.
The range includes Cashews Original and Cashews Sea Salt.
AH Unsalted Cashews are an option to consider if you’re looking for an unsalted product.
The 500 g Cashew Nuts Unsalted Value Pack has product information about its ingredients and allergens.
Unsalted cashews are listed as a product variant.
TRADER JOE’S is the product name for the 250 g roasted, unsalted cashews listed by ALDI.
PLUS Unsalted, Unroasted Cashews are an option if you’re specifically looking for this preparation style.
The products below are cashew variants to compare when cashews are allowed; they aren’t cashew-free snacks. For other dietary requirements, check the information on the exact packaging and agree your choice with the parents.
No image available
Consider this when cashews are allowed; not suitable for guests who need to avoid cashews.
The product information lists cashew kernels as the only ingredient and gives a pack size of 160 g. The nuts are described as ready to eat.
No image available
Only consider this if cashews and the listed allergens fit the arrangements for your guests.
The product information says the cashews are oven-roasted without added fat or oil, and lists gluten, wheat and peanuts in the allergen information.
No image available
Compare this if cashews are allowed and you’re looking for a salted variety.
The product information lists cashews, sunflower oil and salt.
No image available
Compare this if cashews are allowed and you’re looking for an unsalted variety.
The product name describes roasted, unsalted cashews in a 200 g pack.
No image available
Compare this if cashews are allowed and you’d like to consider this variety.
The product information lists cashew kernels with purple skin and salt; the pack size is 500 g.
No. Cashews are nuts themselves and may be an allergen that needs to be avoided. Assess any ‘free from’ claim in relation to the specific dietary requirement, and don’t choose a cashew product for a guest who needs to avoid cashews.
Not without checking the agreed dietary requirements. Jeroen Bosch Hospital advises people with a cashew allergy to avoid pistachios too because they’re closely related. Follow the arrangements for the child concerned.
Agree with the parents which snack is suitable and how it will be prepared and served. Make sure utensils are clean and check for food residue on items such as knives. VieCuri highlights this as something to consider in allergy protocols for schools and childcare. For a party at home, follow these precautions in line with the arrangements agreed with the parents.
The Voedingscentrum advises against giving whole nuts or peanuts to children under 4 because of the risk of choking. Cashews in another format are still unsuitable if the child needs to avoid cashews.
Check the information on the exact packaging and look for every allergen that’s relevant to your guest. According to the NVWA, allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label. The NVWA also says that, from 1 January 2026, rules apply to how and when food businesses must warn about allergens unintentionally present through cross-contamination. These are obligations for businesses, not a permit requirement established here for a private party.
No. The NVWA warning of 20 May 2026 concerns TRADER JOE’S Unsalted Cashews, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Don’t eat that specific pack; the warning doesn’t automatically apply to other variants.
