Choose cashews only if cashews themselves fit your diet; if you have a cashew allergy, this category is not suitable. For other avoidance diets, check the ingredients, allergen information and cross-contamination warnings on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explain why checking whether something is suitable for a lactose-free diet is not the same as checking whether it is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
If you’re considering cashews as a study snack, check the ingredients and cross-contamination warnings for the specific variety. Cashews are a tree nut allergen in their own right, as the NVWA and the Dutch Food Allergy Foundation explain.
Milk allergy and lactose intolerance need to be assessed differently: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that lactose is milk sugar, while a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins.
If cashews fit your diet, you may want to consider unsalted varieties, pack size and storage instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends unsalted nuts and varying the types of nuts you eat.
Start with the ingredient you need to avoid, then consider flavour, preparation and packaging. The NVWA states that allergen information for pre-packed products appears on the label.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding the right allergen | Check the ingredients, listed allergens and any relevant cross-contamination warnings. If you have a cashew allergy, don’t choose cashews. | If I need to avoid gluten, peanuts or another type of nut, I check the specific variety and its warnings first. For around 39% of consumers, avoiding allergens other than milk or lactose is their top priority when buying. |
| Milk or lactose | Work out which diet you follow, then check the milk ingredients and allergen information accordingly. | If milk or lactose is a concern for my diet, I want to distinguish between milk sugar and milk proteins. For around 23% of consumers, milk or lactose is their top priority when buying. |
| Choosing unsalted | Check whether the variety is unsalted; assess the allergen information separately. | If cashews fit my diet and I’m looking for an unsalted snack to eat every day, I focus on that product feature. For around 23% of consumers, an unsalted everyday snack is their top priority when buying. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the pack. The pack size is not a recommended serving. | If I buy cashews for regular study sessions, I want to choose a pack that suits how I use them and know how to store them. For around 15% of consumers, quantity and convenience are their top priorities when buying. |
A statement that one ingredient is absent doesn’t mean a product is free from other allergens. Cashews are a tree nut allergen in their own right, as the Dutch Food Allergy Foundation explains.
First identify the ingredient you need to avoid, then check the ingredients, allergen information and any relevant cross-contamination warnings for the specific variety.
Lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar; a milk allergy concerns milk proteins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that these are different conditions.
Assess a product based on the diet you actually follow. Don’t treat a lactose-related claim as proof that it’s suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Unsalted, unroasted, roasted or made without added oil describes a product feature or preparation method, not the absence of allergens.
Use these features to choose based on flavour or preparation, and check the packaging separately to see whether the product suits your diet.
Duyvis describes its Cashews Original as savoury and oven-roasted, with no added oil.
Albert Heijn sells its own unsalted cashew variety.
Jumbo sells, among other options, 200 g of unsalted cashews and 140 g of unroasted cashews.
Lidl sells an unsalted cashew variety and a separate Way To Go! variety labelled unsalted.
ALDI describes Trader Joe's cashews as roasted and unsalted, in a 250 g pack.
PLUS lists its own 200 g variety of unsalted, unroasted cashews.
The products below are cashews; they differ in preparation, salt content and the product information available. Check the packaging for the ingredients and allergens relevant to your diet.
No image available
The product description lists cashew kernels as an ingredient; also check the packaging for information relevant to your avoidance diet.
The description says the nuts are ready to eat and recommends storing them in a sealed container in a cool, dry place once opened.
Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
No image available
If you can eat cashews and are looking for unsalted nuts, this variety is described as roasted and unsalted.
The product information lists cashews as an ingredient and suggests eating them as a snack. Check the packaging for allergen information relevant to your diet.
Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
No image available
If you’re specifically looking for unsalted cashews, this salted variety won’t suit your preference.
The product information lists cashews and salt as ingredients. Check the packaging for allergen information relevant to your diet.
Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
No image available
If you’re looking for salted cashews with the skin on, the product name makes these features clear; they don’t indicate whether the product is suitable for an avoidance diet.
The product description says they’re ready to serve and should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
No image available
If you’re looking for dry-roasted cashews, the product name describes the preparation method.
The product information lists gluten, wheat and peanuts as allergens, and also mentions salt. This variety is therefore unsuitable if your diet requires you to avoid these ingredients.
Contains cashew and is not suitable for anyone with a cashew allergy.
No. Cashews are a tree nut allergen in their own right, as the Dutch Food Allergy Foundation explains. A claim that another ingredient is absent doesn’t change that.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar, while a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. So don’t treat a lactose-related assessment as proof that a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
The NVWA states that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. This includes, among other things, cereals containing gluten, peanuts, nuts and milk, including lactose. Also check the specific pack for information about cross-contamination.
Since 1 January 2026, Dutch rules have set out how and when businesses must warn about allergens that may be present unintentionally. According to the NVWA, the production date is the key factor; stock packed earlier may still be sold if the food is not unsafe. So the introduction date doesn’t mean that every pack will have the same label.
Jumbo Unroasted Cashews 140 g should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. For another variety, follow the storage instructions on its packaging.
