The cashew varieties reviewed are not a low-calorie choice for a train journey. Weigh your portion and use the label on the exact pack to work out its energy value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 154 kcal for 25 g of unsalted cashews; this is a general reference, not a nutrition value for any particular brand. The European Commission only permits the claim ‘low energy’ on solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g.
You want to take cashews with you and know in advance how much energy your snack provides. Weighing your portion and calculating its value from the label matter more than the words ‘unsalted’ or the description of how they’re prepared.
You’re looking for an unsalted snack or comparing flavoured varieties, without confusing salt content with energy value.
You buy cashews for several journeys and divide a larger pack into portions at home. Pack size and storage instructions are practical things to consider.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Check the kcal per 100 g on the label, weigh your portion and calculate its energy value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 154 kcal for 25 g of unsalted cashews as a general reference. | If I want to know in advance how much energy my snack contains, I weigh my portion and calculate it using the label; around 42% of consumers prioritise monitoring energy intake. |
| Amount for one journey | Check the net weight and the number of stated portions. For the 100 g pack reviewed, Albert Heijn lists four 25 g portions. | For one train journey, I want to take only the amount I’ve planned, rather than a pack containing several portions; around 25% of consumers prioritise taking and portioning snacks. |
| Salt and preparation | Compare the salt per 100 g and read the ingredients. The AH variety reviewed lists 0 g of salt, Jumbo lists 0.02 g, and PLUS lists 2.3 g for Duyvis sea salt cashews. | If I’m mainly looking for an unsalted or salty flavour, I compare salt separately from energy; around 17% of consumers prioritise salt and flavour. |
| Stocking up for several journeys | Compare pack sizes and storage instructions; divide a larger pack into the portions you want to take with you at home. | When I prepare snacks for several train journeys, I consider how many portions I can divide up and store; around 16% of consumers prioritise stocking up for repeat journeys. |
Salt, preparation and energy are different properties. The supermarket varieties reviewed list 598–622 kcal per 100 g; a description of how a product is prepared does not, by itself, indicate a lower energy value.
Compare the energy value on the label of the exact variety and calculate it for your weighed portion. Don’t treat ‘unsalted’ or ‘made without added oil’ as proof that a product is low in calories.
The 100 g AH pack reviewed contains four stated portions of 25 g. So the whole pack is not the same as one portion.
Decide how much you want to take before you leave, and put that amount in a separate container if needed.
For the unroasted, unsalted cashews reviewed, PLUS lists 598 kcal and 0.07 g of salt per 100 g. For Duyvis sea salt cashews, PLUS also lists 598 kcal, but 2.3 g of salt per 100 g.
Compare energy and salt separately. If reducing salt is your priority, don’t choose based on the energy figure alone.
On 20 May 2026, the NVWA issued a warning about Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. The warning applies to that specific pack.
If you have an old pack in the cupboard, check the brand, weight, barcode and best-before date. Do not eat the batch specified by the NVWA.
Duyvis describes separate Original and Sea Salt cashew varieties. The preparation method and the flavour you prefer can help you choose between them.
The AH variety reviewed is unsalted and roasted, in a 100 g pack.
Jumbo offers unsalted cashews in different pack sizes; the amount may be a factor if you prepare portions at home.
Lidl offers unsalted cashews and sells cashews under the Alesto and Way To Go ranges.
ALDI offers Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack, which you can divide into portions at home.
PLUS has a variety reviewed that is unroasted and unsalted, as well as product information for the specific Duyvis sea salt variety.
The products below are cashews suitable for weighed portions on train journeys, including unsalted, roasted and salted varieties. Compare the energy and salt content on the pack of the exact variety.
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A good choice if you want to weigh out a portion and calculate its energy value using the nutrition information.
The product description lists 604 kcal and 0.028 g of salt per 100 g. The pack contains 160 g.
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A good choice if you’re looking for an oven-roasted variety and want to weigh out a portion at home to take with you.
The product description lists 586 kcal and 0.92 g of salt per 100 g, and a pack size of 125 g. It lists cashew, gluten, wheat and peanut as allergens.
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A good choice if you prefer a salted variety and want to weigh out your portion in advance.
The product description lists 2555 kJ and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g. The pack contains 150 g, and the description lists 98% cashews and sunflower oil.
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A good choice if you’re looking for a roasted, unsalted variety and want to take a weighed portion with you.
The product description lists 596 kcal and 0.067 g of salt per 100 g. The pack contains 200 g.
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A good choice if you want to divide a pack into portions at home for several journeys.
The product description lists 679 kcal and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g. The pack contains 500 g.
Not if they exceed the applicable limit. According to the European Commission, solid foods can only carry the claim ‘low energy’ if they contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. The product labels discussed here are above that limit; a smaller portion does not change the threshold for the claim.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g on the pack by the weight of your portion in grams, then divide by 100. For example, 20 g of the AH variety reviewed, which contains 622 kcal per 100 g, provides 124.4 kcal. Use the nutrition information for the exact variety.
No, those words alone are no proof of a lower energy value. Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil, but check the label on the exact pack to compare energy values.
Check the allergen information on the exact pack before buying. The AH variety reviewed lists cashew and the possible presence of other nuts and peanuts; possible traces of wheat are also mentioned for the Duyvis sea salt variety. These products are not suitable alternatives if you need to avoid cashews.
The NVWA warning issued on 20 May 2026 concerns Trader Joe’s unsalted cashews, 170 g, with barcode 2003020120930 and best-before date 23-09-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Do not eat that specific batch, even if the best-before date has passed. The warning does not automatically apply to all packs of the brand.
