The cocktail nuts examined from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain 527–532 kcal per 100 g, so they do not meet the EU requirement for the ‘low energy’ claim: no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. If you want to eat fewer calories at lunchtime, weigh out your portion and also check the exact variant for salt, allergens and packaging.
You fancy cocktail nuts with your university lunch, but want to keep track of how much you eat. Compare the same weight in grams and decide in advance how much to take with you. The Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn labels give nutritional values per 100 g.
You’re looking for something to eat between lectures: either weigh out a portion from a larger bag or take an individually wrapped pack with you. The Duyvis Provencale multipack label lists 45 g packs, which is more than the 25 g example portion shown on the Albert Heijn and Jumbo labels.
Your choice may depend on the allergens present or the amount of salt. Check the exact flavour: the Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn labels examined list varying salt levels and allergens.
Start by deciding how much you want to eat, then check the label and packaging. The Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn labels list 527, 528 and 532 kcal per 100 g respectively; for a comparable 25 g portion, that works out at 131.75, 132 and 133 kcal.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the amount for the portion you actually weigh out. Don’t compare different portion sizes on labels without adjusting for the difference. | If I want to eat fewer calories with my lunch, I weigh out my portion rather than judging by the packaging alone. An estimated 42% of consumers put calories first when choosing what to buy. |
| Convenience for taking with you | Check the weight of each pack. If you’re buying a larger pack, see whether it can be resealed and follow the storage instructions. | For a snack between lectures, I want to know whether I can take an individual pack or need to weigh out an amount myself. An estimated 25% of consumers mainly prioritise convenience when taking snacks with them. |
| Suitability based on the label | Check the allergens and warnings on the exact product packaging. Compare salt per 100 g using the same type of information. | If ingredients, allergens or salt affect my choice, I check the exact flavour before taking it with me. An estimated 17% of consumers prioritise suitability based on the label. |
| Portions per pack | Compare the net weight and work out how many portions you can get from the bag based on the amount you choose. | When I’m shopping for several lunches, I want to know how many portions the pack will provide. An estimated 16% of consumers mainly consider the usable amount per pack. |
The requirement for the ‘low energy’ claim relates to kcal per 100 g, not the portion you eat. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. A 45 g pack is also larger than the 25 g comparison portion.
Check both the nutritional value per 100 g and the weight of the individual pack. Decide how much you want to eat before you assess the packaging.
Comparing different amounts can give a misleading impression of the calories you’ll eat in one sitting. Jumbo and Albert Heijn show a 25 g portion; the Duyvis multipack examined contains 45 g packs.
First calculate the nutritional values for the same amount, and make sure you’re comparing the exact product variant.
According to the Voedingscentrum, unsalted nuts are included in the Wheel of Five, but that doesn’t mean they’re automatically low in calories. The Voedingscentrum’s general calorie checker lists 164 kcal per 25 g of unsalted nuts.
Choose unsalted nuts for the reasons that suit you, rather than assuming they contain fewer calories.
The name ‘Mild’ doesn’t mean a product is free from allergens. The PLUS Borrelnoten Mild label lists peanuts, wheat/gluten, milk and celery, among other ingredients.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging before buying a variant or offering it in a canteen.
According to Duyvis’s brand catalogue, its product range includes several flavours of cocktail nuts, including Cocktail, Provencale, Poesta and Oriental.
Albert Heijn sells its own Cocktail variant in a 250 g bag.
Jumbo sells Borrelnoten Cocktail in a 300 g bag.
PLUS sells Borrelnoten Mild in a 300 g bag.
Lidl Netherlands lists cocktail nuts in its range.
ALDI lists TRADER JOE’S cocktail nuts in flavours such as oriental, provençale and cocktail, in 300 g packs.
This selection includes larger packs of cocktail nuts and similar snacks that you can divide into portions yourself. Check the nutritional values, ingredients and packaging for each exact variant; the same information isn’t available for every product.
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An option if you want to take cocktail nuts with you and choose the amount yourself.
Pack size: 235 g. The product description recommends sealing the pack well after opening.
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Suited to anyone who wants to take a larger pack with them and weigh out their own portion.
The product information lists 541 kcal per 100 g and a 30 g portion. Contains peanuts, wheat/gluten and milk; may contain traces of nuts, soya and mustard.
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A smaller pack for weighing out a portion for your lunch.
The product information lists 527 kcal and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g, with 30 g portions. Contains peanuts and wheat; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard.
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A good option if you want to take this Provençal variant in a larger pack and portion it yourself.
The product information lists 542 kcal and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g. Contains peanuts and wheat; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard.
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A larger pack for anyone who wants to divide this flavour into portions for lunch.
The product information lists 535 kcal and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g. Contains peanuts and wheat; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard.
No, not as a nutritional claim about the product. For solid foods, the European Commission requires no more than 40 kcal per 100 g for the ‘low energy’ claim. A small portion may contain fewer calories than a larger one, but it doesn’t change the requirement for the product.
Multiply the number of kcal per 100 g by the number of grams you weigh out, then divide by 100. For example, 25 g of the Albert Heijn Cocktail variant is 532 × 25 ÷ 100 = 133 kcal. Use the information on the packaging for the exact product and flavour.
No, check the weight of the pack. The Duyvis Provencale multipack examined contains 45 g packs, while the Albert Heijn and Jumbo labels list 25 g as a portion. A packaged portion isn’t automatically low in calories.
Check the allergens present and any warnings about possible traces on the label for the exact variant. The Jumbo Cocktail and PLUS Mild variants examined list peanuts and wheat/gluten; PLUS also lists milk and celery. The AH Cocktail variant also lists milk. Similar flavour names don’t mean the labels are interchangeable.
Yes, businesses supplying unpackaged food have information requirements to meet. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information can be provided in writing or, subject to certain conditions, verbally. It must be directly available before purchase, available in writing or electronically to staff and inspectors, and customers must be clearly told at the point of sale that they can ask for it. This is a requirement for the supplier, not a condition of purchase for a student simply bringing their own snack.
