Mindful snackers
You want to avoid eating more cashews than you intended while wandering around a street festival. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a category example of the nutritional value per 25 g portion.
Who is this relevant to?
Label comparers
You’re specifically looking for less fat and want to distinguish this from an unsalted option or one made without added oil. These labels answer different buying questions.
Sharing snacks
You’re buying cashews for several festival-goers and want to plan the quantity and check allergen information in advance. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains what sellers must tell customers when selling loose nuts.
What should you look for when buying?
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fat content | Compare total fat per 100 g on the labels of the exact products. Check energy separately if that matters to you too. | If I’m looking for an option with demonstrably less fat, I want to compare the nutritional values rather than rely on the product’s preparation description. Around 36% of consumers make reducing fat their top buying priority. |
| Amount eaten | Decide in advance how much you want to take with you, and keep the pack size separate from your own portion. | If I want to eat a measured amount while walking around, I look beyond the fat content per 100 g. Around 29% of consumers prioritise portion control. |
| Unsalted option | Check the product name and read the nutrition table; ‘unsalted’ alone says nothing about total fat. | If I mainly want unsalted cashews, I look for that product description and assess the fat separately. Around 21% of consumers make an unsalted product their top choice. |
| Sharing and allergens | Keep the label with portions you’ve divided yourself, and ask which nuts are included and for allergen information when buying loose nuts. | If I’m sharing cashews with others, I want to keep the product information available and find out in advance which nuts are included. Around 14% of consumers make sharing with allergen information their top priority. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming unsalted means lower in fat
‘Unsalted’ describes the salt content, not total fat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s category example also lists 12.2 g of fat per 25 g for unsalted cashews.
Check salt and total fat separately, and compare exact products on the same weight basis.
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Assuming no added oil means reduced fat
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil. This preparation detail alone does not compare the total fat content.
Use the preparation description to check whether added oil suits your preferences, and the nutrition table to assess the fat content.
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Treating the whole pack as one snack portion
A bag is not automatically a measured portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives its category example per 25 g, while product packs may contain a different amount.
Decide in advance how much you want to eat, and keep the pack weight, amount eaten and nutritional value separate.
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Throwing away the original label when portioning
Without the product information, it’s harder to check the ingredients and allergens in each portion. The NVWA says it must be clear which nuts are being sold loose.
Keep the label with portions you’ve divided yourself, and ask a stall for allergen information before buying.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted and made without added oil.
- The manufacturer explicitly states how they are prepared.
- This is not an independent taste assessment or evidence of lower total fat content.
Albert Heijn
AH Cashewnoten ongezouten is a supermarket own-brand option for anyone specifically looking for an unsalted product.
- The product page confirms that it is an unsalted product.
- Albert Heijn recommends checking the current label, as product information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists Cashewnoten Ongezouten in a 200 g pack.
- The product information states the variant and pack size; according to Jumbo, the salt content comes from naturally occurring sodium.
- A 200 g pack is not an individual snack portion.
Lidl
Lidl lists Ongezouten cashewnoten and the Way To Go! Cashewnoten ongezouten product range.
- The product pages confirm the product and range names.
- ‘Unsalted’ describes the salt content; it is not a claim that the product is lower in fat.
Aldi
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s cashew nuts, roasted and salted, in a 250 g pack.
- The product information states that it is the salted variety and gives the pack size.
- The NVWA warning concerns a different, specific 170 g pack of unsalted cashews; check the product details carefully when referring to that warning.
PLUS
PLUS lists Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand in a 200 g bag.
- The product page confirms the product details and pack size.
- Unroasted does not in itself prove that the product is lower in fat; PLUS recommends checking the current label.
Cashews at Joybuy
This selection includes unsalted, salted and roasted cashews in a range of pack sizes. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the exact product; a salt or preparation description alone does not prove that it is lower in fat.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour Large Cashew Nuts, 160 g
Suited to anyone looking for an unsalted option and wanting to choose their own festival portion.
Ingredients: 100% cashew kernels.
Pack size: 160 g.
Fat: 47.7 g per 100 g.
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Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g
Suited to anyone looking for a smaller pack of cashews made without added oil.
The product description says they are roasted without added fats or oil.
Pack size: 125 g.
Fat: 43 g per 100 g.
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Verse Klassenoten gezouten cashewnoten, 150 g
Suited to anyone looking for a salted option and wanting to compare nutritional values on a consistent weight basis.
The ingredients list includes sunflower oil.
Pack size: 150 g.
Fat: 48 g per 100 g.
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g'woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted, 200 g
Suited to anyone looking for an unsalted roasted option and wanting to portion the pack themselves.
Pack size: 200 g.
Fat: 46.67 g per 100 g.
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Be&Cheery Cashews with Purple Skin, 180 grade, 500 g
Suited to anyone looking to share cashews and compare the nutritional value per 100 g with other varieties.
The product description lists salted cashew kernels.
Pack size: 500 g.
Fat: 60.1 g per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the nutritional value of the amount you’re taking with you?
Multiply the value per 100 g on the pack by the number of grams you want to eat, then divide by 100. Use the same portion size when comparing products. For 25 g of unsalted cashews, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 154 kcal and 12.2 g of fat as a category example.
Do unsalted cashews or cashews made without added oil contain less fat?
No. These descriptions alone don’t answer the question of total fat content. ‘Unsalted’ describes the salt content, while ‘made without added oil’ describes how the product is prepared. To compare fat, check the nutrition tables for the exact products per 100 g.
What information must a festival seller provide when selling loose cashews?
When selling unpackaged nuts, the seller must provide allergen information and make clear which nuts are being sold. The NVWA explains that this information can be provided in writing or verbally. If it’s given verbally, customers must be clearly told that they can ask for it.
How can you keep the product information available when preparing portions at home?
Keep the original packaging, or a clear photo of the label, with the portions. This lets you check the ingredients, allergens and product-specific guidance. Follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Does the NVWA warning apply to all ALDI cashews?
No. The NVWA warning concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. Do not eat a pack that matches these product details. The warning does not automatically apply to other ALDI cashews.