Cashews are only suitable for a school lunch if they fit your dietary requirements and are allowed at school. If you need to avoid cashews or your school has a nut-free policy, don’t pack them. Albert Heijn labels its 170 g variety as gluten-free and lactose-free, but it contains cashews and may contain peanuts and other nuts. Unsalted, vegan or made without added oil does not mean nut-free. The Voedingscentrum recommends unsalted nuts as a snack, but that doesn’t change allergy or school requirements.
If you need to take an allergy or school rule into account, first check whether cashews are allowed. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products.
If you’re mainly looking for an unsalted option for break time, compare the ingredients and salt information. The Voedingscentrum recommends unsalted nuts as a snack, but that doesn’t automatically make them suitable for every diet or every school.
If you want to divide a pack into portions or store it, check the pack size and the storage instructions after opening. Product and packaging details can vary between varieties.
First, work out which ingredient you need to avoid and whether cashews are allowed at school. Then compare the variety, packaging and flavour.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Diet and school rules | Check whether cashews are allowed and read the allergen information and warnings on the packaging. | If cashews don’t fit my dietary requirements or the school rules, I’ll choose something else; around 31% of consumers put dietary and school suitability first. |
| Specific free-from claim | Look for the claim that matches your needs, and assess the ingredients and allergens separately. | For example, I might look for a variety labelled gluten-free or lactose-free and check exactly what that means; around 25% of consumers prioritise this specific dietary feature. |
| Unsalted or savoury | Check whether the variety is unsalted and compare the salt content per 100 g. | If I want to take a snack to school more often, I mainly look for an unsalted variety; around 19% of consumers prioritise this use. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the pack size and follow the storage instructions after opening. | If I want to portion or store the contents myself, I check the packaging and instructions; around 13% of consumers prioritise lunchbox convenience. |
| Flavour and preparation | Compare unroasted, roasted or seasoned varieties, and check the ingredients in the one you choose. | If I’m mainly looking for a savoury flavour, I check which herbs, spices and other ingredients are listed; around 12% of consumers prioritise flavour and ingredients. |
Albert Heijn labels its 170 g cashew variety as gluten-free and lactose-free, but the product contains cashews and may contain peanuts and other nuts. The claim does not mean that the product is free from nuts.
Make a note of the ingredient you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety.
A vegan claim or preparation without added oil says nothing by itself about the possible presence of wheat, peanuts or other nuts. Duyvis states that these ingredients may be present in the savoury variety in question.
Assess dietary claims, ingredients and allergen warnings as separate pieces of information.
PLUS lists cashews as an ingredient in its unsalted, unroasted variety and warns that the product may contain peanuts.
Read the warning alongside the ingredients list and compare it with the specific allergen you need to avoid.
The 170 g AH Unsalted Cashews variety is worth considering if you’re specifically looking for gluten-free and lactose-free claims and can eat cashews.
PLUS Unsalted Unroasted Cashews 200 g is an option if you’re looking for an unsalted, unroasted variety.
Jumbo Unsalted Cashews 200 g is an unsalted variety made with sunflower oil.
Duyvis Oven Roasted Salted Cashews 125 g may suit you if you prefer a savoury, seasoned variety.
Lidl lists Alesto and specifically refers to Way To Go cashews.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.
The products below are cashew varieties for a school break where cashews are allowed. Their titles distinguish between unsalted and salted options, among other things; they are not suitable choices for someone with a cashew allergy or at a school that does not allow nuts.
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An option for a break where cashews are allowed; the product title lists a 160 g pack.
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If you can eat cashews and are looking for an unsalted option, the product title lists roasted, unsalted cashew nuts in a 200 g pack.
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If salted cashews fit your diet, the product title lists a 150 g pack.
The product information lists added salt.
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For a break where cashews are allowed; the product title lists a 500 g pack and the 180 grade.
The product information lists added salt.
No. Albert Heijn labels its 170 g cashew variety as gluten-free, but the product contains cashews and may contain peanuts and other nuts. The gluten-free claim says nothing about whether the product contains nuts.
No. Lactose is milk sugar; a cow’s milk allergy involves milk proteins. So check for milk ingredients and relevant warnings, not just the lactose-free claim.
Ask about your school’s current rules and the area where you eat. If there’s a nut-free policy, don’t take cashews with you. Zorgeloos naar school recommends discussing allergy arrangements with parents and the school.
It warns that peanuts may be accidentally present; it doesn’t mean that peanuts have been added as an ingredient. The NVWA states that rules have applied since 1 January 2026 on how and when food businesses should give precautionary allergen warnings. The NVWA lists ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’ among the permitted wordings.
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 applies only to Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026. The NVWA reported possible metal particles and advised people not to eat these cashews. The warning does not automatically apply to other ALDI packs or batches.
