Lunchbox packers
You want to take cashews with you for a gluten-free lunch and know in advance whether a multipack contains small portions or full-size retail packs. The allergen information for the exact variety matters more than the pack size.
Who is this for?
Sharing in a mixed household
You want to share nuts without crumbs from gluten-containing snacks getting into your portion. Keeping them separate and portioning them with clean hands and utensils are practical things to bear in mind.
Regular snack preppers
You often prepare snacks in advance and want a larger pack with clear product information and storage instructions. Gluten-free information applies only to the specific variety it refers to.
What should you look for when buying?
Individual portion bags
A good fit if: you want to take a sealed snack with you without weighing it out yourself. Check that the exact variety meets your gluten-free requirements.
Bear in mind: a convenient pack size says nothing about whether the nuts themselves are suitable.
Multipack of retail packs
A good fit if: you want to store several unopened packs for different occasions or places.
Bear in mind: Albert Heijn describes the Ongezouten cashewnoten 4-pack reviewed as four separate 225 g products, not four lunchbox portions.
Portioning them yourself from a bag
A good fit if: you can portion them hygienically at home and reseal the bag properly after use. Albert Heijn labels specific 200 g, 250 g and 500 g varieties as gluten-free.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to weigh out portions yourself and avoid contact with gluten-containing crumbs. Check the label on the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability of the variety | Read the ingredients, gluten-free statement and warnings about gluten-containing cereals on the exact pack. | If I’m buying cashews for a gluten-free lunch, I first want to know whether that specific variety is suitable. Around 36% of consumers put gluten-free suitability at the top of their buying priorities. |
| What’s in the multipack | Check the number of individual packs and the weight of each one, and whether they’re snack bags or retail packs. | If I want to fill a lunchbox without weighing out portions myself, I look for ready-to-go portions. Around 29% of consumers put lunchbox convenience first. |
| Keeping portions separate | Consider whether you can prepare and seal portions in advance, and whether your hands, utensils and lunchbox are clean. | If I’m sharing nuts in a household with gluten-containing snacks, I want to keep my portion separate. Around 21% of consumers give top priority to storing and serving food separately. |
| Stock and storage | Compare the amount in each bag and follow the storage instructions on the exact pack. | If I’m buying a larger bag, I want a size that suits how I use and store it. Around 14% of consumers prioritise managing their food supplies and the cost of their shop. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a convenient pack size means the product is gluten-free
The historical AH 3 × 40 g portion pack carried a warning that it may contain gluten-containing cereals. So a small bag on its own tells you nothing about whether its contents are suitable.
First check the ingredients and warnings for the exact variety. Then decide whether the pack size suits your lunchbox.
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Confusing a multipack with snack portions
The AH Ongezouten cashewnoten 4-pack reviewed is described as four separate 225 g products. These are retail packs, not four small lunchbox bags.
Read the pack contents and the weight of each item before assuming you can take individual portions with you straight away.
With full-size retail packs, you may need to weigh out portions yourself and use suitable resealable containers.
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Sharing a gluten-free product alongside other snacks
Crumbs from other products can contaminate a portion that was initially gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Association and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlight the importance of preventing cross-contamination.
Prepare portions separately using clean equipment, and keep the pack closed until you’re ready to use it.
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Assuming information for one pack size also applies to another
A 250 g bag and a 225 g multipack item aren’t necessarily the same variety just because their names are similar. Gluten-free information applies to the specific variety it appears on.
Check the full product name, pack size and label on the pack you’re actually buying.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Useful for comparing multipacks of retail packs with individual bags that you portion yourself.
- Albert Heijn labels the specific 200 g and 500 g AH Terra Ongebrande cashewnoten and the 250 g AH Ongezouten cashewnoten as gluten-free.
- That information does not automatically apply to a different pack size or to the individual items in a multipack.
Jumbo
The 500 g Ongezouten cashewnoten reviewed is a larger pack, not a multipack of individual portions.
- Jumbo lists 99% cashews and sunflower oil for this variety.
- The product information includes warnings about other nuts and peanuts; this information about the variety is not a gluten-free statement.
PLUS
The 200 g ongezouten, ongebrande cashewnoten reviewed are a smaller pack to portion yourself.
- The product page lists cashews as an ingredient and provides storage instructions.
- The page includes a peanut warning; check the allergen information on the exact pack.
Duyvis
Cashews Original is a seasoned, roasted variety for comparing flavour and preparation.
- According to Duyvis’s own information, the cashews are roasted without added oil.
- Duyvis states that the product may contain wheat. So don’t present this variety as suitable for people with coeliac disease.
ALDI
The 250 g Trader Joe’s geroosterde, ongezouten cashewnoten reviewed is described as a retail pack.
- This makes the pack size and preparation style clear.
- This product information is not a gluten-free guarantee. An NVWA safety warning in 2026 specifically concerned 170 g Trader Joe’s ongezouten cashewnoten with a best-before date of 23-09-2026; that warning does not automatically apply to the 250 g pack.
Lidl
Lidl is a suggested retailer for cashews.
- The official store page confirms that cashews are a relevant product option.
- The retailer’s name alone doesn’t tell you whether a specific variety is suitable for someone with coeliac disease; check the label on that variety.
Cashews on Joybuy
The Joybuy products below are bags of cashews for portioning yourself, not individually wrapped lunchbox portions. Only pack a variety in a gluten-free lunchbox if the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack meet your requirements.
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Jiazhouyuanye Original Flavour cashews, 160 g
This bag size could work as a starting point for preparing portions at home. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before using it for a gluten-free lunch.
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Three Squirrels Purple-Shell cashews, 500 g
The 500 g bag is a larger pack to portion yourself, not a set of small snack bags. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before use.
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g'woon roasted, unsalted cashews, 200 g
This 200 g bag could be suitable for portioning yourself. Check the information on the exact pack before using the nuts as part of a gluten-free lunch.
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Be&Cheery cashews with purple skin, 180 grade, 500 g
The 500 g size is a larger bag to portion yourself. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before using it for a gluten-free lunch.
Frequently asked questions
Are unroasted nuts or nuts roasted without added oil suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
No. The way a product is prepared doesn’t tell you whether it may have come into contact with gluten. Duyvis says Cashews Original may contain wheat, even though the manufacturer describes them as roasted without added oil.
Where should I look on a Dutch label for sources of gluten?
Check the ingredients list and look out for the named cereal grains. The NVWA, for example, lists wheat, barley and oats, so searching only for the word ‘gluten’ isn’t enough.
Is a gluten-free statement just a marketing term?
No. The statement is subject to EU requirements. The European Commission refers to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, which has applied since 20 July 2016.
How can I take cashews I’ve portioned myself with me?
Portion them using clean hands and utensils, and put them in a clean, sealed lunchbox or container. This helps reduce the risk of contact with gluten-containing crumbs, but says nothing in itself about how the nuts were produced.
How should I store a bag that I’m using to make portions?
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. The AH varieties reviewed advise storing the nuts in a cool, dark, dry place and resealing the bag properly after use.