To find a lower-fat option, check the nutritional information per 100 g: unsalted or made without added oil does not automatically mean low in fat. Also plan the portion to suit your party and check salt, ingredients and allergens separately. If children will be eating, bear in mind the risk posed by whole nuts.
You want to serve cashews with less fat and understand the difference between a nutrition claim, no added oil and unsalted cashews. For solid foods, the European Commission distinguishes between the absolute claim ‘low fat’ and other product characteristics. The ingredients and labels of the varieties reviewed here also show why these terms are not interchangeable.
You want to offer cashews, but plan how much to serve each guest and store any leftovers properly. The Voedingscentrum provides general guidance on portions and storage. Check the packaging of the variety you’re serving for its nutritional information and storage instructions.
You’re organising a party attended by young children or guests with a food allergy. The NVWA explains how allergens are listed on labels, while the Voedingscentrum warns that children can choke on whole nuts.
For people choosing cashews for a birthday party who want a lighter snack, the main priority will depend on the desired nutritional profile, portion planning, salt content or guest safety. The percentages below show the different main reasons given by consumers for whom each is the most important consideration.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely lower in fat | Compare the fat per 100 g and read the ingredients. According to the European Commission, ‘low fat’ for solid foods means no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g; no added oil is not the same as low fat. | If you’re mainly looking for a different nutritional profile, check the claim and nutritional information on the exact pack. Consumers who prioritise lower fat content make up around 40% of this group. |
| Portion and pack size | Check the net weight, decide how much you’ll serve and follow the storage advice on the packaging. As a general reference, the Voedingscentrum gives 12.2 g of fat and 154 kcal for 25 g of unsalted cashews; these are not brand-specific figures. | If you want to decide how much to put out for each guest, weighing the portions in advance can help. Store any leftover nuts properly, too. Consumers who prioritise portion planning make up around 30% of this group. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check both the salt content and the ingredients list. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo unsalted varieties reviewed here contain sunflower oil, so unsalted does not mean no added oil. | If you want to avoid added salt, check the salt information without confusing it with the fat content. Consumers who prioritise limiting salt make up around 20% of this group. |
| Serving safely | Check the allergens and warnings on the packaging. The Voedingscentrum warns that children can choke on whole nuts, so adapt how you serve them accordingly. | If you’re expecting guests with a food allergy or young children, keep the label next to the bowl and consider how the nuts are served. Consumers who prioritise guest safety make up around 10% of this group. |
Being unsalted or organic says nothing by itself about whether a variety is low in fat. The AH Organic Unsalted Cashews reviewed here contain sunflower oil and list 50 g of fat per 100 g.
Check fat, salt and ingredients as separate details on the label of the exact pack.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil. This is the manufacturer’s description of how the cashews are prepared, not proof that they are low in total fat.
Use this claim only to check whether oil has been added. For total fat, look at the nutritional information per 100 g.
The figures on a label may look lower when they’re given for a smaller portion, even if the cashews themselves have the same nutritional profile. The Duyvis information reviewed here uses a 30 g portion; the AH variety lists 25 g.
Compare the figures per 100 g first, then calculate them for the same portion size.
Without the packaging, the ingredients and allergen information won’t be readily available next to the bowl. Product and batch details may also be needed to identify a particular pack.
Keep the packaging during the party and make the information available to your guests.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil.
The AH Organic Unsalted Cashews 200 g reviewed here are an organic, unsalted variety.
The Jumbo Unsalted Cashews 200 g reviewed here are an unsalted variety containing sunflower oil.
Lidl lists the Way To Go! Unsalted Cashews variety.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s Roasted Unsalted Cashews in a 250 g pack.
The PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashews 200 g reviewed here list cashews as the ingredient.
No. For solid foods, the European Commission defines ‘low fat’ as no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g. A product description such as unsalted or no added oil does not prove that it meets this limit; check the claim and nutritional information on the exact pack.
Use the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging and multiply it by the number of grams you’re serving, then divide by 100. This lets you compare equal-sized portions, even when the labels use different portion sizes.
Check the ingredients list and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the exact pack. According to the NVWA, relevant allergens must be listed on the label; information about fat or salt is no substitute. Keep the packaging next to the bowl.
Bear in mind that children can choke on whole nuts. The Voedingscentrum warns about this risk; make sure children eat sitting down, stay nearby and adapt how you serve the nuts if needed.
Do not eat Trader Joe’s Unsalted Cashew Nuts 170 g with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. On 20 May 2026, the NVWA reported that this specific pack might contain metal fragments. The warning applies to the pack described, not automatically to other pack sizes or varieties.
