Choose cocktail nuts based on the specific ingredient you or your guests need to avoid, rather than relying on a general ‘free from’ impression. The Duyvis Cocktail 275 g product reviewed lists peanuts, wheat and milk ingredients; the Dutch Coeliac Society advises checking the gluten-free label on the packaging when choosing gluten-free snacks. If milk is a concern, it’s important to distinguish between a milk protein allergy and lactose intolerance, and to check the current packaging every time.
If peanuts or certain nuts aren’t suitable for you, check them as separate ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority treats peanuts and nuts as separate allergen categories; the Duyvis Cocktail and Jumbo Cocktail products reviewed both contain peanuts.
When choosing a crunchy snack for a get-together, you’ll want to check whether the coating itself is gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that cocktail nuts are usually not gluten-free and advises checking the current labelling.
If you need to avoid milk ingredients or lactose, check which of the two is relevant to you. The Duyvis Cocktail 275 g product reviewed lists lactose from milk and flavourings with milk; a milk allergy and lactose intolerance need to be assessed differently.
Start with the ingredient you or your guests need to avoid, then check the exact variety and any relevant precautionary statements. If you’re serving snacks for everyone to share, keep the packaging and portions clearly separated.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Peanuts and nuts separately | Check whether peanuts are listed as an ingredient, then separately check for the relevant nuts and any precautionary statements. | If I need to avoid peanuts or certain nuts, I check both separately on the packaging. Around 29% of consumers make avoiding peanuts or nuts their main priority. |
| Gluten-free coating | Look for the words ‘gluten-free’ or suitable gluten-free labelling, and check the current ingredients and warnings. | If I eat gluten-free, I want to know whether the crunchy coating is suitable too. Around 29% of consumers make gluten-free their main priority. |
| Milk and lactose | Work out whether you need to avoid milk ingredients or lactose, then check the ingredients and relevant precautionary statements on the exact packaging. | If I need to avoid milk, I first want to know whether the concern is milk protein or lactose. Around 24% of consumers make avoiding milk or lactose their main priority. |
| Sharing clearly | Keep the packaging with the portions, clearly separate different products and discuss with your guests which variety suits their diet. | If I’m putting out snacks for guests with different dietary needs, I want to keep the products clearly separated. Around 18% of consumers make careful sharing their main priority. |
Checking for gluten doesn’t tell you whether a product contains peanuts, nuts or milk. These ingredients and warnings need to be checked separately.
First, make a list of the ingredients you or your guests need to avoid, then check each one individually.
Duyvis describes Cocktail as peanuts with a crunchy coating and says this product is ‘without artificial colourings’. That claim doesn’t confirm that the product is free from allergens; the Cocktail 275 g product reviewed also lists wheat and milk ingredients.
When choosing a product to suit your diet, use the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, not a claim about colourings.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cow’s milk allergy concerns milk proteins, while lactose intolerance concerns lactose. So a statement about lactose doesn’t automatically tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Check the label for the specific ingredient you need to avoid.
Product information and ingredients can change. Albert Heijn advises reading the packaging before consumption, and the Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights that recipes may change.
Check the exact variety and current packaging again every time you buy it.
A brand or retailer name on its own doesn’t confirm that a variety is suitable for a diet that excludes a particular ingredient. Always check the information on the exact packaging.
Duyvis describes Cocktail as peanuts with a crunchy coating and lists packs of 125 g, 275 g, 500 g and 1.000 g.
Albert Heijn lists AH Borrelnoten cocktail as an own-brand product.
The product description for Jumbo Borrelnoten Cocktail 300 g describes peanuts with a crispy batter coating.
The Lidl listing is for Duyvis Borrelnootjes; Lidl is the retailer here, not the brand of the product.
ALDI describes TRADER JOE’S cocktail nuts in oriental, provençale or cocktail varieties, in a 300 g pack.
PLUS lists Borrelnoten Mild 300 g as an own-brand variety and marks it as vegetarian.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists peanuts and nuts as separate allergen categories. Check them separately if you need to avoid them.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cow’s milk allergy concerns milk proteins, while lactose intolerance concerns milk sugar. So a lactose-free statement alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a cow’s milk allergy.
The Dutch Coeliac Society advises looking for the Crossed Grain symbol, other gluten-free labelling or the words ‘gluten-free’. Also check separately for any allergens relevant to you.
Prepacked foods must include allergen information on the label. Since 1 January 2026, precautionary warnings about cross-contamination have been covered by new Dutch rules for food businesses, as confirmed by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority and the Regulatory Consultation on the Commodities Act. These rules for businesses don’t mean you need to create a formal allergen label at home.
Read the current packaging before eating the product. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and dietary or allergy information can change; if you’re unsure about the exact variety, ask for clarification before treating its suitability as confirmed.
