First, check for the ingredient you need to avoid; only then consider the flavour, brand or pack size. A crunchy coating doesn’t automatically make coated peanuts suitable for your dietary needs, so check the ingredients and warnings for the exact product. A vegan or vegetarian label is no substitute for doing this.
You want to add a snack for drinks, but the ingredients and warnings about your allergen determine which product may be suitable. The Dutch Nutrition Centre explains why allergen information matters; always check the exact pack.
You’re after a suitable crunchy snack and want to check the coating, any gluten-free claim and the warnings. The Dutch Coeliac Association outlines several steps for reading food labels.
You want a snack that suits a low-lactose diet or vegan preference, without confusing these needs with avoiding milk because of an allergy. The Dutch Nutrition Centre explains the difference between a food allergy and an intolerance.
First, establish which ingredient you need to avoid. Then check the coating, allergen warnings and dietary information. Only after that should you choose the quantity and flavour.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Read the ingredients and warnings on the pack for the exact product. Peanuts and tree nuts are different allergens, so don’t rely on a general ‘free from’ claim. | If you need to avoid a specific allergen, take warnings about its possible presence into account too. Around 36% of consumers say avoiding an allergen is their top purchasing priority. |
| Gluten in the coating | Check the ingredients and any gluten-free claim. The Dutch Coeliac Association recommends looking at several label details, not just a logo. | If eating gluten-free is your priority, the crunchy coating matters too. Around 29% of consumers say gluten-free suitability is their top purchasing priority. |
| Lactose, milk and vegan suitability | Work out whether you’re limiting lactose, avoiding animal ingredients or need to avoid milk because of an allergy. According to Sligro, the Duyvis Provencale 20 × 45 g reviewed may contain milk, despite its vegan label. | If you’re choosing a vegan product or keeping an eye on lactose, you’ll need to check different information from someone avoiding milk because of an allergy. Around 21% of consumers say limiting lactose or choosing a vegan product is their top purchasing priority. |
| Quantity for your top-up | Choose the pack size once you’ve checked that the product is suitable for your dietary needs. The Jumbo Borrelnoten Cocktail reviewed contains 300 g; follow the storage instructions on the pack. | If you’re simply topping up for drinks, you’ll want a pack size that suits the amount you need. Around 14% of consumers say quantity and convenience when topping up are their top purchasing priorities. |
A vegan label doesn’t mean a product is free from possible traces of milk. Sligro, for example, notes this for Duyvis Provencale 20 × 45 g. PLUS Borrelnoten Mild 300 g is labelled vegetarian, but its product information lists milk and lactose.
Use these labels to guide your preferences, but check the ingredients and warnings separately if you need to avoid an allergen.
The coating may matter too. Sligro lists wheat for Duyvis Provencale 20 × 45 g, while PLUS Borrelnoten Mild 300 g lists wheat and cereals containing gluten.
Read the full ingredients list, including flour, starch, flavourings and spice mixes, and check any gluten information.
Product information can change, and a declaration for one pack size doesn’t automatically apply to another product. Albert Heijn recommends checking the pack before eating.
Make sure your assessment applies to the exact product name, flavour and pack you’re buying or receiving.
A brand with coated peanuts in a range of flavours; check each product individually for dietary suitability.
AH Borrelnoten Cocktail and AH Oriental are product names to check individually when topping up your supplies.
Jumbo Borrelnoten Cocktail is a useful example when comparing pack sizes.
Lidl describes Alesto as a range of nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.
The official Dutch product page lists Trader Joe’s Borrelnoten Oriental, Provençale or Cocktail in a 300 g pack.
PLUS Borrelnoten Mild 300 g is a good example of why a mild flavour or vegetarian label isn’t a guarantee of dietary suitability.
Sellers must provide information about allergens present in a product. The NVWA explains this requirement; for prepacked food, check the packaging. The Dutch Nutrition Centre explains that the 14 most common allergens must be clearly listed.
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, rules in the Netherlands have covered how and when businesses warn on labels about allergens that may be present unintentionally. From 2026, the NVWA will oversee the rules for prepacked products.
No, the Crossed Grain symbol isn’t the only thing to look for. The Dutch Coeliac Association also recommends checking for another gluten-free claim and reading the ingredients. The European Commission explains that the conditions for using the ‘gluten-free’ claim are regulated across the EU.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack for your product. For Jumbo Borrelnoten Cocktail 300 g and PLUS Borrelnoten Mild 300 g, storage in a cool, dry, dark place is recommended. Storage instructions don’t tell you whether a product is suitable for your allergy; check the product information for that.
Check the pack again each time you buy the product. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information can change. Check the exact product you’re buying or receiving, and contact the seller if you have any questions.
