Christmas guests who need to avoid peanuts
A guest with a peanut allergy needs a snack that contains no peanuts. Jeroen Bosch Hospital advises people with a peanut allergy to avoid foods containing peanuts.
Who is this guide for?
Peanut eaters with specific dietary requirements
If peanuts are allowed but, for example, gluten or milk needs to be avoided, check the ingredients and warnings for the exact product. HANOS's information about Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail shows why coated snacks need to be checked separately.
Hosts serving a Christmas buffet with mixed dietary needs
When guests have different dietary requirements, keeping packaging easy to identify and serving products separately can help prevent mix-ups. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains how cross-contamination can happen unintentionally.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, find out what each guest needs to avoid. Flavour, quantity and how you serve the snacks come afterwards.
A snack without peanuts
Choose this when: a guest needs to avoid peanuts.
Bear in mind: a peanut-free snack is not automatically free from other allergens; check the information about cross-contamination too.
Plain peanuts without a coating
Choose this when: peanuts are allowed and you want to check the product for another specific dietary restriction.
Bear in mind: unsalted tells you about the salt content, not whether the product contains gluten, milk or other allergens.
Coated peanuts
Choose this when: the guest can eat the ingredients in that exact coated product.
Bear in mind: for the Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail product reviewed, HANOS lists gluten and milk, among other ingredients. This information does not automatically apply to other products.
| Consideration | What to check when buying | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| The right restriction | Ask which ingredient needs to be avoided; peanuts themselves are an allergen. | If I’m shopping for a guest with a peanut allergy, peanuts are off the menu, even if they’re unsalted. Around 31% of consumers prioritise avoiding peanuts. |
| Ingredients and coating | Check the exact flavour, ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging. | If peanuts are allowed but another ingredient needs to be avoided, I want to check the ingredients in that particular product. Around 31% of consumers prioritise a specific dietary restriction like this. |
| Cross-contamination | Read warnings about possible traces and keep snacks clearly identifiable and separate. | When serving a buffet for people with different dietary requirements, I want to minimise mix-ups and cross-contamination as much as possible. Around 25% of consumers prioritise careful separation when serving. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare pack sizes and follow the storage instructions on the exact packaging. | Once I’ve confirmed a snack is suitable, I want to choose an amount that works for my guests and store any leftovers properly. Around 13% of consumers prioritise quantity and storage. |
Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging before eating, as product information can change. A claim such as ‘unsalted’ or ‘no artificial colours’ does not prove that a product is free from a particular allergen.
Common pitfalls
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Assuming ‘free from’ means free from all allergens
Without further detail, the term does not tell you which ingredient has been excluded. Peanuts themselves are an allergen; a general claim does not prove that a product is suitable for every food allergy.
Ask which ingredient needs to be avoided and check the exact product accordingly. If a guest needs to avoid peanuts, do not buy them a product containing peanuts.
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Thinking a coating only changes the flavour
For the Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail product reviewed, HANOS lists gluten and milk as well as peanuts. This applies to that product, not automatically to other coated snacks.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour; don’t assume information about plain peanuts or another product applies.
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Putting a suitable snack on a shared plate without making any other arrangements
Cross-contamination can also happen during preparation or serving. And if snacks are transferred to another container, it can be harder to check the original product information.
Keep the packaging to hand and serve suitable snacks separately, making them easy to identify. Use separate serving utensils as a practical precaution. This cannot guarantee that cross-contamination will not occur.
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Choosing the biggest pack before checking dietary suitability
The size of a pack does not change its allergen status. A larger quantity is only useful if the snack is suitable for your guests and you can store any leftovers according to the packaging instructions.
Check dietary suitability first, then compare the pack sizes and storage instructions for the exact products.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
Duyvis sells plain peanuts as well as coated peanuts. The unsalted variety is for anyone looking for peanuts without added salt.
- Duyvis describes its unsalted peanuts as peanuts without salt.
- For the Borrelnootjes Cocktail product reviewed, HANOS lists gluten and milk, among other ingredients. This does not apply to all products from the brand.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells own-brand AH peanuts, including an unsalted variety for your everyday shop.
- The product page identifies the product as AH Unsalted Peanuts.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging before eating. The product name is no guarantee that it meets a specific dietary restriction.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells products including Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts in a 250 g pack.
- The product page confirms that it is the unsalted variety and comes in a 250 g pack.
- Being unsalted and the pack size do not prove that a product is free from another allergen.
Lidl
Lidl’s Alesto range includes peanuts in a spiced batter coating.
- Lidl’s product description makes it clear that this is a coated peanut snack.
- If you have a specific dietary requirement, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product.
ALDI
ALDI’s Dutch product page describes Trader Joe’s Peanuts as unsalted and sold in a 250 g pack.
- The product page lists the variety and the 250 g pack size.
- Being unsalted and the pack size do not prove that the product is gluten-free, milk-free or suitable for someone with another allergy.
PLUS
PLUS describes its product as extra-large unsalted peanuts in a 275 g tub.
- The product page lists the variety and the 275 g pack size.
- PLUS advises checking the packaging; the size and packaging type say nothing about whether the product is suitable for someone with a specific allergy.
Joybuy products
These Joybuy products all contain peanuts and are for situations where peanuts are allowed. They differ in preparation and form, among other things; none is an alternative for a guest who needs to avoid peanuts.
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g'woon unsalted peanuts 250 g
An option when peanuts are allowed and you’re looking for unsalted peanuts.
The description lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil, and mentions that cashews may be present; check the current packaging for relevant ingredients and warnings.
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Freshly roasted extra-large peanuts 210 g
A roasted variety for situations where peanuts are allowed and you’re looking for unsalted peanuts.
The description lists 100% peanuts and says they are unsalted; the product name says they are roasted.
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G'woon peanuts in shell 500 g
An option for guests who can eat peanuts and want to shell them themselves.
The peanuts are in their shells; the description mentions possible traces of nuts. Bear in mind that they need shelling, and check the packaging.
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Golden Turtle Premium raw peanuts with skin 500 g
An option when peanuts are allowed and you want to prepare a snack yourself.
The product description says these are raw peanuts with their skins on; it suggests roasting and seasoning them to make a snack. Bear in mind that you’ll need to prepare them before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Can I serve unsalted peanuts to a guest with a peanut allergy?
No. Unsalted peanuts still contain peanuts. Jeroen Bosch Hospital advises people with a peanut allergy to avoid foods containing peanuts, so choose a snack without peanuts for that guest.
Does a coating only mean a different flavour?
Not necessarily. For the Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail product reviewed, HANOS lists gluten and milk, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients and warnings for the exact product; this information does not automatically apply to other products.
Does ‘may contain’ mean an allergen has been deliberately added?
Not necessarily: this warning is about the possible unintentional presence of an allergen due to cross-contamination. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that an allergen can get into a product unintentionally, for example during production. Read the warning on the packaging for the exact product.
How should I serve snacks when guests have different dietary requirements?
Keep the original packaging with the product information and serve suitable snacks separately, making them easy to identify. Using separate serving utensils and preventing mix-ups are practical precautions against cross-contamination, but they cannot guarantee that a snack is allergen-free.
Are whole peanuts suitable for young children at a Christmas party?
Bear in mind the risk of choking. The MDL Fonds says whole nuts are not safe for children under four. Choose a texture that is suitable for their age and meets their dietary requirements.