People who need to avoid cashews
If you need to avoid cashews because of an allergy, choose a different snack: a different preparation or salted variety doesn’t change the ingredient. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists cashews as an allergen.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People with other dietary requirements
If you can eat cashews but want to avoid, for example, gluten, peanuts or milk, check the ingredients and warnings for the specific variety. Unsalted, unroasted or made without added oil are not free-from claims.
Consumers and stallholders at Christmas markets
When serving snacks, it’s important to provide allergen information before purchase. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) distinguishes between information on prepacked products and information for products sold loose.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide which ingredient you want to avoid. Then compare the preparation, packaging and how you plan to serve the snack at the Christmas market.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cashews themselves | Establish whether cashews are the ingredient you need to avoid; choosing a different cashew variety doesn’t change that. | If I need to avoid cashews, every cashew variety is out; around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding cashews. |
| Gluten | Read the information for the exact variety, including any gluten-free claim and warnings about cereals containing gluten or wheat. | If you want to eat cashews but avoid gluten, you’ll need to check the information on the specific packaging. Around 29% of consumers prioritise avoiding gluten. |
| Peanuts, milk or lactose | Check the specific ingredient and the accompanying allergen information. A lactose-free claim alone doesn’t prove that a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy. | If you can eat cashews but need to avoid peanuts or milk, check for that specific ingredient and its accompanying warning; around 21% of consumers prioritise a different specific allergen requirement. |
| Serving and storage | Decide whether you’ll serve the product packaged or loose, how information will be available before purchase and which storage instructions apply to the packaging you choose. | If you’re serving snacks from a stall, you’ll want to provide allergen information before sale and follow the storage instructions. Around 14% of consumers prioritise practical serving and storage considerations. |
This guide can help consumers considering cashews as a Christmas market snack, including when checks show that a different snack is needed. The percentages show the relative importance of different purchasing priorities; they are not measured market shares.
Common buying mistakes
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Mistaking a preparation claim for an allergen claim
Unsalted, unroasted or made without added oil doesn’t mean that cashews or other allergens are absent. A claim about how a product is prepared doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether it’s suitable for a particular dietary requirement.
Decide which ingredient you need to avoid and read the information for the exact variety.
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Choosing a cashew mix when you want to avoid peanuts
Duyvis lists cashews, peanuts and almonds as ingredients in Cashews, Peanuts & Almonds Original. So don’t assess a mix as though it contains only cashews.
Check the full ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging.
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Assuming the original label is available when serving loose products
For unpackaged products, allergen information must be available in another way before purchase. The NVWA says this can be provided in writing. You can also give the information verbally, as long as it’s clearly stated that customers can ask for it.
Plan in advance how visitors can view or request the information.
For a stallholder, this means taking extra time to make allergen information available and keep it up to date.
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Ignoring a specific safety warning
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns TRADER JOE’S Cashewnoten ongezouten 170 gram, with EAN 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The warning refers to possible metal fragments and applies to that specific packaging.
Do not eat a pack with this EAN and best-before date; the fact that the date has passed doesn’t cancel the warning.
Brands to compare
Duyvis
Duyvis offers both cashew products and mixed nuts.
- Duyvis says Cashews Original is oven-roasted and made without added oil. This describes the product; it isn’t a free-from guarantee.
- The Flink sales page lists warnings for ingredients including wheat and peanuts for the specific Oven Roasted Gezouten Cashew Noten 125g variety. Assess this variety using its own product information.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers products including AH Cashewnoten ongezouten.
- The product name makes clear that this is an unsalted variety.
- Albert Heijn advises customers to read the packaging, as product and allergy information may change. Unsalted doesn’t tell you whether the product is suitable for a specific dietary requirement.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists several pack sizes of unsalted cashews.
- The product information includes packs of 200 g and 130 g. Jumbo Ongezouten Cashewnoten 130 g should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place.
- Pack size and storage instructions don’t tell you whether a product is suitable if you need to avoid a particular ingredient. Check the packaging for the variety you choose.
Lidl
Lidl sells cashews under the Alesto brand and also lists Way To Go cashews.
- Lidl describes its Way To Go cashews as Fairtrade.
- An origin or Fairtrade label doesn’t tell you whether allergens are absent. Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
ALDI
ALDI lists TRADER JOE’S roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
- The product information describes the preparation and pack contents of this 250 g variety.
- The NVWA warning concerns a different pack: the 170 g unsalted variety with EAN 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The warning shouldn’t automatically be applied to the 250 g variety.
PLUS
PLUS offers Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand in a 200 g bag.
- The product name identifies the unsalted, unroasted variety and gives the pack size.
- PLUS advises customers to read the packaging, as product and allergy information may change. Unsalted and unroasted don’t confirm that a product is free from any particular ingredient.
Cashews on Joybuy
These Joybuy products are cashew options for people who can eat cashews and want to check the ingredients or preparation of a specific variety. They are not general free-from recommendations; check the product information on the exact packaging before buying.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts 160 g
An option to look at if you can eat cashews and want to check the ingredients.
The product information lists 100% cashew kernels and a pack size of 160 g. Store in a cool, dry place and reseal the pack after opening.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
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Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews 125 g
This roasted variety is worth considering if you can eat cashews and want to check the ingredients and warnings.
The product information lists a 125 g pack and oven-roasting without added fats or oil. Gluten, wheat and peanuts are listed as allergens; store in a cool, dry place.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them. The listed information about gluten, wheat and peanuts doesn’t make this a suitable choice if you need to avoid those ingredients.
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Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts 150 g
Consider this option if you can eat cashews and are looking for a salted variety.
The product information lists 98% cashews, sunflower oil and salt; the nuts are described as freshly roasted. The pack contains 150 g. Store in a cool, dry place and reseal the pack after opening.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
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g'woon roasted, unsalted cashews 200 g
An option to compare if you can eat cashews and are looking for an unsalted product.
The product name describes roasted, unsalted cashews; the product information lists a pack size of 200 g. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and reseal the pack after opening.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
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Be&Cheery cashews with purple skin, grade 180, 500 g
Check the product information for this variety if you can eat cashews and want to check the ingredients.
The product name lists grade 180 and 500 g. The ingredients information lists cashew kernels and salt. Store in a cool, dry place and reseal the pack after opening.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable if you need to avoid them.
Frequently asked questions
Are unsalted cashews allergen-free?
No. Cashews are a tree nut allergen; unsalted describes only a product characteristic. If you need to avoid cashews, choose a different snack.
Does a gluten-free claim prove that cashews are also nut-free?
No. The European Commission sets separate conditions for using the gluten-free claim; it says nothing about the absence of cashews. Cashews contain cashews as an ingredient.
Does a Christmas market stall in the Netherlands have to provide allergen information for loose nuts?
Yes, allergen information must be available before purchase. The NVWA says it can be provided in writing. You can also give the information verbally, as long as it’s clearly stated that customers can ask for it.
How should you store cashews for serving?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the variety you choose. For Jumbo Ongezouten Cashewnoten 130 g, Jumbo advises storing the product in a cool, dry and dark place; other varieties may have different storage instructions.
What warning applies to older stock of TRADER JOE’S cashews?
Do not eat TRADER JOE’S Cashewnoten ongezouten 170 gram with EAN 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. On 20 May 2026, the NVWA reported possible metal fragments; the warning concerns that specific packaging.