When serving cashews at a birthday get-together, pay particular attention to weighing out your portions: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 154 kcal for 25 g of unsalted cashews. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for a ‘low-calorie’ claim. The checked PLUS, Jumbo and AH varieties with clear nutritional information are well above this, at 598, 619 or 622 kcal per 100 g.
You want to serve cashews while keeping a careful eye on portion size. Compare the same weights and check the nutritional information on the exact pack; a brand that claims to be low in calories is no substitute for a suitable portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 154 kcal per 25 g handful of unsalted cashews.
You’re looking for an unsalted variety and also want to know whether oil or other ingredients have been added. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in its ‘Wheel of Five’ healthy eating guidelines; that doesn’t mean a product is low in calories.
You’re planning packs and portions for a group and taking allergies into account. Read the allergen information on the exact pack; product pages from PLUS and Albert Heijn, among others, also warn of a choking risk for small children.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then weigh the portion you plan to serve. Consider salt, ingredients, allergens and pack size as separate factors.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who might this matter more to? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories and portion size | Check the kcal per 100 g on the exact pack and weigh the portion you plan to serve. | If I’m keeping an eye on my energy intake, I want to be able to weigh a portion and compare products on the same basis. Around 42% of consumers put calories and portion size first. |
| Salt and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and compare the salt per 100 g; ‘unsalted’ on its own says nothing about the energy content. | If I’m looking for unsalted nuts or a simple ingredients list, I want to assess these qualities separately from calories. Around 25% of consumers give salt and ingredients top priority. |
| Suitability for guests | Ask about any relevant allergies, read ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the pack, and check for warnings about small children. | If I’m serving guests with different needs, I want to check allergens and warnings for young children. Around 17% of consumers put guest safety first. |
| Pack size and planning | Compare the net weight with the number of portions you’re planning and follow the storage advice after opening. | If I’m buying for a group, I want to plan enough portions without having too much left over. Around 16% of consumers make quantity and party planning their top priority. |
These terms describe the salt content and how the nuts are prepared, not their energy content. The checked unsalted products from Albert Heijn and Jumbo both list 622 kcal per 100 g.
Compare energy, salt and ingredients separately. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for a ‘low-calorie’ claim.
A lower kcal figure for a smaller portion doesn’t mean the product contains less energy per gram.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then work it out for the same portion weight.
Allergen information varies from pack to pack. For the checked unroasted variety, PLUS states that it may contain peanuts; for the checked unsalted cup, Albert Heijn mentions the possible presence of other types of nuts.
Read the ingredients list and warnings on the pack you’re actually serving, and choose accordingly for the guest concerned.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted, savoury and made without added oil.
The checked AH Unsalted Cashews are roasted cashews with sunflower oil, sold in a 170 g tub.
The checked 200 g own-brand products include unroasted cashews with one ingredient and unsalted cashews with sunflower oil.
Lidl Netherlands describes unsalted and spicy roasted cashews as separate varieties.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s roasted unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashews is a 200 g own-brand variety made with cashews as its only ingredient.
These Joybuy product options are cashews for a drinks get-together or another snacking occasion. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergens in the product details for the exact variety.
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The 160 g Original Flavour pack is an option for a drinks get-together; check the nutritional information per 100 g and weigh the portion you plan to serve.
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This dry-roasted variety is a good option if you’re looking for roasted cashews; check the nutritional and allergen information on the exact pack before serving.
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The 500 g pack may be useful when planning for a get-together; first work out how many portions you need, then check the nutritional and allergen information for this variety.
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This roasted, unsalted variety is an option if you’re looking for this particular preparation and flavour; compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens on the pack.
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The product name describes salted cashews with their skins on in a 120 g pack; check the salt content and allergen information if you’re serving this variety.
No. A smaller portion doesn’t make the product itself low in calories. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for this nutrition claim; a portion can, however, provide less energy than a larger portion.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g shown on the pack by the portion weight in grams, then divide by 100. For the checked PLUS variety, which has 598 kcal per 100 g, a 25 g portion provides 149.5 kcal.
Choose a portion size and multiply it by the number of guests who want to eat cashews. For example, eight 25 g portions require 200 g; this is a planning example, not a recommended maximum intake.
Read the ingredients list and product-specific warnings on the pack you’re serving. The NVWA explains that the allergens required by law must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list; don’t serve cashews to anyone with a relevant allergy.
The NVWA warning of 20 May 2026 concerned 170 g packs of Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews with a best-before date of 23-09-2026, due to possible metal particles; customers were instructed not to eat them. The warning applies to that specific pack and date, not automatically to the 250 g ALDI variety.
