If you avoid gluten or lactose, the Dutch product page for Albert Heijn AH Unsalted Cashew Nuts 170 g lists them as gluten-free and lactose-free. The product does contain cashews and may contain peanuts and other nuts, so check the information on the exact pack. If you have a cashew allergy, you’ll need a different snack. If you have a milk allergy, a lactose-free claim isn’t enough; and a gluten-free portion should be kept separate from bread and crackers when serving.
Ask which specific ingredients your guests need to avoid. A gluten-free or vegan label doesn’t mean a product is free from cashews or other allergens. The NVWA and Stichting Voedselallergie provide information about allergens and nuts.
Check the information for the exact variety, and make sure the nuts don’t come into contact with bread or crackers when serving. The Voedingscentrum advises preventing cross-contamination of gluten-free products with gluten.
Look for information about the specific variety and distinguish between lactose intolerance and milk allergy. Stichting Voedselallergie explains that a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins; a lactose-free label doesn’t automatically answer that question.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding allergens | Check the ingredients and warnings on the exact pack. The NVWA provides information about allergens on pre-packed products. | If a guest needs to avoid cashews, I’ll choose a different snack for them and check for warnings about possible cross-contact with allergens too. Around 36% of consumers put avoiding allergens first. |
| Avoiding gluten | Check that the specific variety is labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with snacks containing gluten. The Voedingscentrum explains cross-contamination. | If I avoid gluten, I check both the product label and the risk of contact with crumbs when serving. Around 29% of consumers prioritise avoiding gluten. |
| Lactose or milk proteins | Work out whether you need to avoid lactose or have a milk allergy, then check the relevant ingredients and allergen information. Stichting Voedselallergie explains the difference. | If I avoid lactose, I look for an explicit lactose-free label. If I have a milk allergy, I check for milk proteins and cross-contact information. Around 21% of consumers give avoiding lactose top priority. |
| Quantity, taste and storage | Compare the net weight and preparation method, and follow the storage instructions on the pack. | If avoiding something for medical reasons isn’t my main reason for buying, I compare quantity, taste and how to store any leftovers. Around 14% of consumers prioritise practical snacks for a drinks party. |
A gluten-free or lactose-free label doesn’t mean the cashews are free from cashews or other potential allergens. For the variety reviewed, Albert Heijn warns that it may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Beforehand, find out which ingredient your guest needs to avoid, then check both the ingredients and precautionary warnings on the pack.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as roasted without added oil, but also lists salt and possible traces of wheat, peanuts and other nuts.
Consider the preparation method, salt and allergens as separate properties.
Crumbs from bread or crackers could come into contact with the portion you’ve chosen. The Voedingscentrum advises protecting gluten-free products from cross-contamination.
Use a separate, clean bowl and serving utensils, and keep the packaging to hand so you can check the product information.
A separate bowl and serving tongs take up extra space on the table and need a little preparation.
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns TRADER JOE’S unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. The warning does not automatically apply to the separately reviewed 250 g pack.
Compare the brand, pack size, barcode and best-before date with the warning. Do not eat a pack that matches the notice, even if its best-before date has passed.
AH Unsalted Cashew Nuts 170 g is a specific variety listed as gluten-free and lactose-free on the Dutch product page.
PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashew Nuts 200 g is a plain variety with a short ingredients list.
According to its product information, Jumbo Unsalted Cashew Nuts 130 g is a baked, plain variety.
Duyvis Cashews Original 125 g is a savoury, seasoned, oven-roasted variety.
The Lidl product page describes unsalted cashews in a 500 g pack.
The Dutch product page describes TRADER JOE’S roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
These products are cashews for a drinks party. Check each specific variety to make sure its ingredients and allergen information meet your guests’ needs.
Image unavailable
A good fit for a drinks party if you’re looking for a plain cashew variety with a simple ingredients list.
The listed ingredients are 100% cashew kernels. It contains cashews, so it isn’t suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
Image unavailable
A good fit for a drinks party if you’re looking for a salted cashew variety.
The product name describes these as salted cashews. They contain cashews, so they aren’t suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
Image unavailable
A good fit for a drinks party if you’re looking for roasted cashews without a salty taste.
The product name describes these as roasted and unsalted. They contain cashews, so they aren’t suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
Image unavailable
A good fit for a drinks party if you’re looking for a larger pack of cashews with their skins on.
The product name lists purple skin, 180 grade and 500 g. It contains cashews, so it isn’t suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
Image unavailable
A good fit for a drinks party if you’re looking for a salted cashew snack that’s ready to serve.
The product name describes salted cashews with their skins on, 120 g. It contains cashews, so it isn’t suitable for guests who need to avoid them.
Not if you mean free from cashews or nuts: cashews are an allergen in their own right. A gluten-free or lactose-free label relates to a different ingredient and doesn’t change that. Check the information for the exact variety; Stichting Voedselallergie provides information about nut allergies.
No. A milk allergy involves milk proteins, while lactose intolerance is related to milk sugar. If you have a milk allergy, check the relevant ingredients and cross-contact information, not just for a lactose-free label. Stichting Voedselallergie explains the difference.
Serve it in a separate, clean bowl with separate serving utensils, and keep it away from bread crumbs. This follows the Voedingscentrum’s advice to prevent contact with gluten. Keep the packaging too, so the product information is available.
It’s a precautionary warning about the possible unintended presence of an allergen, separate from ingredients that have been deliberately added. Dutch rules for these warnings have applied since 1 January 2026; the NVWA explains the requirements and the wording used.
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerns TRADER JOE’S unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930, with a best-before date of 23-09-2026. Do not eat a pack that matches these details, even if its best-before date has passed. The warning doesn’t automatically apply to the separately reviewed 250 g pack.
