The unsalted cashews from PLUS, Jumbo and Albert Heijn that we reviewed contain 598–622 kcal per 100 g, so they are not low in calories. According to the European Commission, the ‘low energy’ claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. Weighing a portion helps you see how much energy is going into your child’s lunchbox, but it is not a reason to give them too little food; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) emphasises that children need food to grow. Only pack cashews if they’re suitable given any allergies, the school’s rules and safe eating practices.
You want to pack cashews without treating a large packet as a single snack portion. Compare the energy per 100 g with the amount that will actually go into the lunchbox, and remember that children need enough food to grow. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) explains the nutritional needs of children aged 4 to 12.
Your choice depends first on allergies, school rules and safe chewing and eating. These considerations may mean that cashews aren’t suitable for your child’s school bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) warns about the risk of choking on whole nuts.
You may be looking for an unsalted product that you can portion and store yourself. Compare the ingredients, the exact packet variety and the storage advice; the same brand name doesn’t always mean the recipe is the same.
Choose these when: you’re looking for a simple recipe with no added oil listed; the PLUS variety reviewed lists only cashews as an ingredient.
Consider: the PLUS variety lists 598 kcal per 100 g and may contain peanuts; unroasted doesn’t mean low in calories or allergen-free.
Choose these when: you want unsalted cashews and are happy with a recipe that contains sunflower oil.
Consider: the AH and Jumbo varieties reviewed both list 622 kcal per 100 g; check the ingredients on the exact packet.
Choose these when: you prefer a savoury, salted snack.
Consider: the separately reviewed 125 g Duyvis Oven Roasted Gezouten variety lists 604 kcal and 1.5 g salt per 100 g. Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted with no added oil; this is a different variety.
Choose this option when: the school has a relevant nut-free policy, your child needs to avoid cashews or whole nuts aren’t suitable for safe eating.
Consider: another snack isn’t automatically nutritionally equivalent. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) suggests vegetables and fruit as snacks for children aged 4 to 12.
This table is for shoppers considering cashews for a school lunch. Each row highlights the main purchasing priority.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who might find this more important? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in a portion | Check the kcal per 100 g and weigh the amount. | If I want to know how much energy the portion I pack provides, I weigh the nuts and look at the whole lunch; around 36% of shoppers prioritise the energy in a portion. |
| Allergies and safe eating | Check the relevant school policy, allergy advice and the form of the nuts. | If allergies or safe eating are key considerations, I first check whether cashews can be packed at all; around 29% of shoppers make safety their main priority. |
| Ingredients and salt | Compare the ingredients, energy and salt for the same variety. | If I’m looking for unsalted nuts or a simple ingredients list, I compare the exact packet rather than relying on the brand name alone; around 21% of shoppers prioritise the ingredients. |
| Portioning and storage | Check the net weight, any portion information and the storage instructions. | If I pack the snack often, I want to be able to portion and store it easily; around 14% of shoppers say convenience is their main priority. |
The unsalted PLUS, AH and Jumbo varieties reviewed contain 598–622 kcal per 100 g. ‘Unsalted’ alone doesn’t mean a food is low in energy.
Compare the kcal per 100 g and weigh the portion you’re packing. Don’t describe the varieties reviewed as low in calories.
Cashews are still an allergen. Stichting Voedselallergie (the Dutch Food Allergy Foundation) states that the allergen remains stable when heated; the possible presence of other nuts varies by product.
Follow individual allergy advice and relevant school rules before choosing a particular recipe.
The packets reviewed come in different sizes. A packet isn’t automatically one lunchbox portion.
Weigh an amount that fits into the whole lunch. The portion listed on the label isn’t personal advice for every child.
Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between packets. A safety warning may also apply to just one specific packet.
Compare the product name, pack size, ingredients and label. If there’s a warning, check the barcode and best-before date listed too.
This calls for extra care when you buy a different pack size or variety.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted with no added oil. The separately reviewed 125 g Oven Roasted Gezouten Cashew Noten is a different variety.
The 170 g AH Cashewnoten ongezouten packet reviewed lists 96% cashews and sunflower oil.
The 200 g unsalted packet reviewed lists 99% cashews and sunflower oil. Jumbo also sells a separate 130 g packet.
Lidl sells cashews under the Alesto brand. Its brand page lists Way To Go cashews as a Fairtrade option.
Aldi lists TRADER JOE'S roasted and unsalted cashews in a 250 g packet.
The 200 g PLUS Cashewnoten ongezouten ongebrand packet reviewed lists cashews as its ingredient.
These Joybuy products show different cashew varieties for comparing ingredients, energy and portion size. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for the ‘low energy’ claim; the energy values listed for these products are higher.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a variety made with cashews alone and want to calculate the energy in a weighed portion.
Ingredients: 100% cashew kernels. Energy listed: 604 kcal per 100 g. Keep the packet closed after opening.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
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Suitable if you want to compare a roasted, unsalted cashew variety.
The title says roasted and unsalted; the ingredients list only cashews. Energy listed: 596 kcal per 100 g. Close the packet securely after opening.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
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Suitable if you want to compare roasted cashews with a savoury flavour and take the salt content into account.
The ingredients include salt and flavourings. Energy listed: 586 kcal per 100 g; salt content is 0.92 g per 100 g.
The product description lists cashews, peanuts, gluten and wheat as allergens. Check the packet if you have allergies.
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Suitable if you want to compare a larger packet and weigh out a separate amount for the lunchbox.
The ingredients list cashew kernels and salt. Energy listed: 679 kcal per 100 g. The product description states that the packet contains 500 g.
Contains cashews and isn’t suitable for people with a cashew allergy.
No. The PLUS, AH, Jumbo and Duyvis varieties reviewed don’t meet the threshold for the ‘low energy’ claim. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. A smaller portion doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g by the number of grams, then divide by 100. Based on the label, 25 g of the PLUS variety reviewed provides 149.5 kcal; for the AH and Jumbo varieties, it’s 155.5 kcal. This is a calculation example, not a recommended amount for every child.
No, roasting doesn’t make cashews suitable for people with a cashew allergy. Stichting Voedselallergie (the Dutch Food Allergy Foundation) states that the allergen remains stable when heated. Follow individual allergy advice and check the information on the exact packet.
Check the current policy at your child’s school. If it has a relevant nut-free policy, don’t pack cashews. This isn’t a statement about a nationwide ban or permission.
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerns 170 g packets of TRADER JOE'S unsalted cashews with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Don’t eat the affected packet and follow Aldi’s recall instructions. The warning doesn’t automatically apply to other packets or varieties.
