Choose cashews only if your guest’s diet allows cashews. If they need to avoid cashews, every cashew variety is off the menu. Albert Heijn explicitly lists AH Unsalted Cashews 100 g as gluten-free and lactose-free, but also states that the product may contain peanuts and other nuts. For gluten-free snacks, remember to prevent cross-contamination when serving.
You’ll want to check whether cashews are suitable for your guest’s specific diet, paying attention to the ingredients, allergen information and how the snack is served. An allergy to one type of nut doesn’t automatically mean an allergy to all types of nuts, according to Allergie Centra Nederland.
You’re looking for a suitable snack and want to prevent gluten transfer via crumbs, hands or shared serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Association explains how gluten can be transferred to party snacks via hands.
You’re comparing lactose-free or vegan claims on the exact packaging. Lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy are different dietary concerns: a cow’s milk allergy involves milk proteins, according to the Voedingscentrum.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Cashews themselves | Ask which allergen needs to be avoided, then check the ingredients and allergen information. | If I don’t know whether cashews themselves are suitable, I want to find out before choosing a snack. Around 28% of consumers prioritise checking whether cashews are suitable. |
| Gluten | Check the information on the exact packaging and look for mentions of cereals containing gluten. | If avoiding gluten is my first consideration, I want to see a relevant claim on the packaging rather than relying on the product being plain or unsalted. Around 22% of consumers prioritise choosing gluten-free products. |
| Lactose or plant-based ingredients | Decide whether you want to avoid lactose, animal-derived ingredients or milk proteins, then check the relevant information. | If I mainly want to avoid lactose or animal-derived ingredients, I look for the claim that matches my needs. Around 17% of consumers prioritise choosing lactose-free or plant-based products. |
| Serving without cross-contamination | Set up a separate serving area and use clean utensils. Be mindful of hands and crumbs from other snacks. | Once I’ve chosen the product, I want to prevent it coming into contact with other snacks during the party. Around 22% of consumers prioritise how the food is served. |
| Flavour and packaging | Once you’ve checked whether it meets your dietary needs, compare how the cashews are prepared, the salt content and the net weight. | Once I know the product is suitable for the diet, I look at which preparation and quantity will work for the party. Around 11% of consumers prioritise this product choice next. |
A gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan claim doesn’t change the fact that cashews contain cashew. A claim relating to one dietary need says nothing in itself about other allergens.
Ask which ingredient your guest needs to avoid, then check the information on the exact packaging.
The PLUS variety reviewed lists cashews as an ingredient, but also states that the product may contain peanuts.
Read both the ingredients list and the allergen information and warnings.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, hands and bread crumbs can transfer gluten to other snacks.
Set up a separate serving area and use clean utensils in advance. This takes more organisation than using one shared platter.
The Duyvis variety is oven-roasted without added fat or oil, but the product information also mentions savoury seasoning and possible traces of wheat.
Assess the preparation method, salt content and allergen information separately.
The variety reviewed is Oven Roasted Cashews Salted, 125 g.
The variety reviewed is AH Unsalted Cashews, 100 g.
The variety reviewed is Jumbo Unsalted Cashew Nuts, 200 g.
Lidl presents Alesto as a range of nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.
The Trader Joe's variety reviewed is roasted and unsalted, and comes in a 250 g pack.
The variety reviewed is PLUS Unsalted and Unroasted Cashews, 200 g.
These Joybuy products are cashew varieties for a drinks party or snack break. Check the information on the exact packaging for each dietary requirement; these products aren’t a general guarantee that other allergens are absent.
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Worth considering if cashews are suitable and you’re looking for a single-ingredient snack. The product information lists 100% cashews and says they’re ready to eat.
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Worth considering if roasted, savoury-seasoned cashews are suitable for your guests. The product information mentions cashews, gluten, wheat and peanuts; check these details against the specific dietary requirement.
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Worth considering if a salted variety is suitable and cashews are allowed. The product information lists 98% cashew nuts and 1% salt.
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Worth considering if you can eat cashews and are looking for roasted, unsalted nuts. The product information lists cashews as an ingredient.
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Worth considering if cashews and salt are suitable for your party. The product information lists cashews and salt as ingredients and describes the nuts as having purple skin.
No. Lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar, while a cow’s milk allergy involves milk proteins. The Voedingscentrum therefore advises checking the information against the specific dietary requirement, rather than relying only on a lactose-free claim.
Use a separate serving area and clean utensils, and avoid contact with hands or crumbs from snacks containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Association specifically mentions gluten transfer via hands when serving party snacks.
The products reviewed are sold as snacks; the PLUS variety is described as unroasted and the Duyvis variety as roasted. Baking them again isn’t a proven way to remove an allergen warning.
Follow the label on the exact packaging. PLUS advises storing the cashews reviewed in a cool, dry place; this advice doesn’t automatically apply to every variety.
The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 concerned Trader Joe's Unsalted Cashews, 170 g, barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The warning applies to that specific batch and not automatically to the 250 g pack reviewed.
