Households weighing up how much to buy
You want to take enough for your holiday without buying more than you’ll use. Compare the weight and price per kilo of the same type of product; Jumbo lists unsalted peanuts in 250 g and 500 g packs.
Who is a value pack of nuts suitable for?
People who eat nuts regularly
If nuts are a regular snack, the types of nuts and the ingredients may be what matters most. Check for added salt, oil and sweetened fruit, for example. These vary by product, as the product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo shows.
Holidaymakers who want to take portions with them
You may want to spread your supply across several days out or avoid carrying a large bag each time. A 200 g bag and a box of individually packed coated snack nuts are different types of packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, eating whole nuts and peanuts requires extra care with young children.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether you want plain nuts, a fruit and nut mix or a seasoned snack. Then compare the weight, ingredients and how much you can store properly where you’re staying.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Value per kilo | Net weight, price per kilo and how much you expect to use. | If I want enough for the holiday without ending up with leftovers I won’t use, I look for an amount that suits our needs. Around 31% of consumers prioritise value per kilo. |
| Ingredients | Types of nuts and their percentages, added salt, sweetened fruit and coating ingredients. | If I’m choosing nuts for regular snacks, I want to know what else is in the mix. Around 25% of consumers say ingredients are most important to them. |
| Storage and how much you’ll use | How many times you expect to eat them, the weight and the storage instructions on the pack. | If the supply is going to last several days, I want a suitable place to store it and packaging I can seal after opening. Around 19% of consumers prioritise having enough in stock and storing it properly. |
| Portions for on the go | Weight per bag, number of bags and whether it’s nuts or a savoury snack. | If I want to split snacks across days out, individual bags are easier than weighing everything out myself. Around 13% of consumers prioritise taking snacks with them and portioning them out. |
| Sharing safely | Allergens and warnings on the pack; bear whole nuts in mind when young children are eating. | If we’re sharing, I want to take account of allergens and the people eating the snacks. Around 12% of consumers say sharing safely is most important to them. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming unsalted means sugar-free
The Jumbo cranberry mix examined contains 20% dried sweetened cranberries, including cane sugar. So the word ‘unsalted’ doesn’t tell you everything about what’s in it.
Read the ingredients and compare a fruit and nut mix with other fruit and nut mixes, not just with plain nuts.
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Comparing the price per kilo of different types of snack
A seasoned coated snack and an unroasted nut mix have different ingredients. So a kilo of one isn’t the same purchase as a kilo of the other.
Choose the type of product first, then compare weight, ingredients and price per kilo within that category.
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Choosing a large bag without somewhere suitable to store it
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing mixed unsalted nuts in a cool, dark, dry place in a well-sealed container. A large supply therefore needs enough suitable storage space.
Choose an amount that matches how much you expect to use and follow the storage advice on the pack after opening.
Unused or stale stock can reduce the savings you hoped to make.
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Assuming one bag is suitable for everyone
Allergens vary between mixes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also warns that children may choke on whole nuts and peanuts.
Check the latest allergen information and, for young children, consider the form of the food and when they’ll be eating it.
Brands and product ranges to compare
Duyvis
The range includes coated snack nuts, tiger nuts, peanuts and mixes.
- The Provencale variety examined is a seasoned savoury snack with onion and garlic flavour.
- The 450 g pack contains 50% peanuts, as well as wheat, sugar and salt. Duyvis says any warnings about traces are shown on the pack.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand nut mix examined is an unsalted mix in a 500 g bag.
- The product information lists the types of nuts, their percentages and 20 portions of 25 g.
- The mix contains sunflower oil and is not entirely unroasted. ‘Price Favourite’ is Albert Heijn’s own positioning, not a general price comparison.
Jumbo
The products examined range from unsalted peanuts to nut mixes and a cranberry mix.
- The product pages provide details to compare the weight and ingredients of specific varieties.
- The cranberry mix contains sweetened fruit. The unroasted nut mix examined was listed as temporarily unavailable; its ingredients and availability don’t necessarily apply to the entire range.
Lidl
Alesto is Lidl’s product range examined here, covering nuts, dried fruit and party snacks. A product page also describes a 200 g mix of unroasted, unsalted nuts.
- The 200 g pack is a smaller packaging option.
- The page says it is sold in store; that doesn’t tell you whether a particular branch has it in stock.
ALDI
The product page examined is for Trader Joe’s Unsalted Nut Mix, 500 g.
- The listed mix contains almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
- The ingredients listed apply to this product listing and aren’t a judgement on the price or quality of other ALDI products.
PLUS
The own-brand nut mix examined is unroasted and unsalted, and is listed in a 500 g stand-up pouch.
- The ingredients list includes 30% walnuts, 30% brown hazelnuts, 20% almonds and 20% cashews.
- If you have a relevant allergy, the allergen information and any warnings on the pack are still important, even if you know the main ingredients.
Nut products at Joybuy
These products range from individual types of nuts and a mixed nut blend to individually packed portions. Compare the ingredients and packaging before treating them as alternatives to one another.
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Haoxiangni Thin-Shelled Walnuts 500 g (8 packs)
A good option if you’re looking for walnuts in a pack you can divide over several occasions.
The pack contains 500 g and lists 8 packs.
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g'woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts 500 g
A good option if you’re looking for a 500 g bag of mixed unroasted nuts.
If you have a relevant allergy, check the warning about possible traces of peanuts and other nuts.
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BE&CHEERY Premium Macadamia Nuts 500 g
A good option if you’re looking for macadamia nuts rather than a mixed nut blend.
The product information advises consuming the contents immediately after opening. Bear this in mind if you want to spread the bag over several days of your holiday.
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J.ZAO Pecan Halves, Roasted, 500 g
A good option if you’re looking for a pack of pecans; the product information also lists sugar and salt.
The listed ingredients show that pecans make up 87.6% of the product. Bear the other ingredients in mind if you’re looking for a simple nut option.
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J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix 750 g (30 sachets)
A good option if you’re looking for individually packed portions to take with you or on holiday.
Dried fruit makes up 83.4% of the listed ingredients; the ingredients list includes sugar in the dried cranberries. This is a fruit and nut mix, not a mix made mainly of nuts.
Frequently asked questions
How do you work out how many nuts you’ll need for your holiday?
Choose a portion size that suits the people who’ll be eating them, then multiply it by the number of planned snack occasions. For the bag examined, Albert Heijn lists 20 portions of 25 g. If two people each have one of those portions a day, they’ll use the bag in ten days. This is an example calculation, not personal dietary advice.
How should you store a large bag of nuts once it’s open?
Store mixed unsalted nuts in a cool, dark, dry place in a well-sealed container. For an opened product, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a storage time of six months in a kitchen cupboard and one year in the freezer; these aren’t guarantees in warm holiday conditions. Follow the storage advice on the pack too, and look out for changes such as a rancid smell or taste, a chewy texture or mould.
Can young children eat whole nuts from the same bag?
Not without taking the risk of choking into account. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns against whole nuts and peanuts for children. Stay nearby, make sure children eat calmly while seated, and choose a form of food that’s suitable for everyone eating.
What should you look for in the allergen information on a pack?
Check both the listed allergens and any relevant cross-contamination warnings. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must be shown on the label. The government portal Business.gov.nl says label information must be available in Dutch and online too. A product name alone won’t tell you whether a mix is suitable for someone with a particular allergy.
What rules for cross-contamination warnings have applied since 2026?
Since 1 January 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has checked the rules for cross-contamination warnings on prepacked products during inspections. It lists the warnings ‘May contain …’ and ‘Not suitable for …’, and says a warning must be based on a risk assessment. This is information about labelling, not a guarantee that a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.