For a child under 4, nut butter with no added sugar or salt is a different choice from a bag of whole cashews: Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter rather than whole nuts for this age group. So a multipack of whole cashews isn’t a ready-made nursery lunch. When comparing household supplies, check the exact variety, the price per kilo and how much you’ll actually use, and bear allergies and childcare arrangements in mind.
If you want to include nuts in the diet of a child under 4, check the product form first: Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also warns against giving young children whole nuts.
If you regularly buy cashews for home, compare the pack size and price per kilo with how much you actually use. Buying a larger quantity isn’t a recommendation to give whole nuts to a young child.
Check that a cashew lunch is compatible with the individual allergy arrangements and the policy of the childcare setting. The NVWA notes that allergen information for prepacked products appears on the label, so check the pack you buy.
Start with the child’s age and the childcare arrangements. Then compare the variety, quantity and storage advice for household use.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this mainly matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Product form for the child’s age | For a child under 4, is it whole nuts or nut butter? If it’s nut butter, also check whether sugar or salt has been added. | If you’re putting together lunch for a young child, you’ll want a suitable form rather than a bag of whole nuts. That’s why around 28% of consumers prioritise product form. |
| Allergens and childcare arrangements | Read the allergen information on the current packaging and check the individual arrangements and relevant childcare policies. | If there’s an allergy requirement or a nut-free policy at the childcare setting, you need to know whether cashews are excluded from lunch. This is the main priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Value for money when buying in bulk | Compare the price per kilo for the same variety and check the net weight against your household’s consumption. | If you regularly buy cashews for home, you’ll want to know whether you’ll actually use a larger pack. Around 22% of consumers focus mainly on the value of buying a larger quantity. |
| Exact variety | Check the full variety name and whether salt has been added; unsalted and sea salt varieties aren’t the same. | If you specifically want unsalted cashews, the information on the product packaging is what matters. Around 17% of consumers focus mainly on the ingredients and variety. |
| Using it up and storage | Check the best-before date and storage advice, including instructions for after opening. | If you want to avoid an opened pack sitting around for longer than it takes you to use it, choose a quantity that suits your consumption and follow the label. Around 11% of consumers focus mainly on managing their supplies. |
The pack size doesn’t change the product form. For children under 4, Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts.
For this age group, don’t simply choose a bag of whole cashews as a lunch product; make sure the product form also fits any allergy and childcare arrangements.
A larger pack doesn’t automatically work out cheaper per kilo, and you may end up with more than you can use.
Compare the price per kilo for the same variety and consider the pack size against how much your household uses.
A larger quantity may mean the pack stays open for longer. Follow the storage advice on the label, including any instructions for after opening.
Nut butter is different from whole nuts, but it still contains nuts. So the product form doesn’t replace checking the allergen information and individual arrangements.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging and follow the policy of the relevant childcare setting.
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerned TRADER JOE'S unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. The warning applies to the specific pack mentioned, not automatically to other sizes or batches.
Check the barcode and best-before date on the packaging. Do not eat the specific pack mentioned.
The Cashews Sea Salt range reviewed is a cashew snack with sea salt.
The AH range reviewed includes a product called AH Unsalted cashews.
The range reviewed includes unsalted cashews in a 500 g pack and a smaller 200 g variety.
Lidl lists a product range called Unsalted cashews.
The TRADER JOE'S range reviewed includes a 250 g pack of roasted, unsalted cashews.
PLUS lists unsalted, unroasted cashews in a 200 g bag.
These are whole cashews for household use. They aren’t a ready-made lunch option for children under 4; check the variety and allergen information on each pack.
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A pack to consider when comparing household supplies; not a product to serve as whole nuts to a child under 4.
The product name specifies 160 g and Original Flavour.
Contains cashews; don’t take this product if the relevant allergy or childcare arrangements exclude cashews.
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A smaller pack to compare for household use if you cook or bake with cashews; not a product to serve as whole nuts to a child under 4.
The product name specifies roasted, unsalted cashews and 200 g.
Contains cashews; don’t take this product if the relevant allergy or childcare arrangements exclude cashews.
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The larger pack is worth comparing for household supplies, but the product description mentions salt, so this isn’t an unsalted variety.
The product name specifies 500 g and 180 grade.
Whole cashews aren’t the recommended form for children under 4. Don’t take this product if the relevant allergy or childcare arrangements exclude cashews.
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A smaller pack for household snacking; the product description mentions salt, so this isn’t an unsalted variety.
The product name specifies Dry Roasted and 125 g.
Whole cashews aren’t the recommended form for children under 4. Don’t take this product if the relevant allergy or childcare arrangements exclude cashews.
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A smaller pack for household snacking; the product name and description specify salted cashews.
The product name specifies 150 g.
Whole cashews aren’t the recommended form for children under 4. Don’t take this product if the relevant allergy or childcare arrangements exclude cashews.
For this age group, choose nut butter with no added sugar or salt rather than whole nuts. Amsterdam UMC highlights the choking risk, and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also warns against whole nuts.
Follow the label for the exact product. If it says to store the product in a cool place, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends somewhere cool, dark and dry; some products do need to be kept in the fridge after opening.
For a prepacked product, check the allergen information on the current packaging. The NVWA says this information should appear on the label; also make sure your choice fits the individual allergy and childcare arrangements.
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerned TRADER JOE'S unsalted cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Do not eat the specific pack mentioned; the warning doesn’t automatically apply to other sizes or batches.
