At a street festival, a nut snack is only suitable if its ingredients and allergen information match the specific substance you need to avoid; gluten-free or lactose-free does not mean allergen-free. AH Unsalted Almonds is one specific example with gluten-free and lactose-free product claims, but it contains almonds and carries warnings about peanuts and other nuts. If a nut you need to avoid is listed as an ingredient or as a possible presence, don’t rely on a general free-from label when choosing a snack. Check any alternative separately.
You want to know which nut, peanut or other allergen is present before buying, rather than relying on a general free-from label. For example, the Dutch Food Allergy Foundation points out that peanuts are not nuts. Check the information for the specific substance you need to avoid.
You’re looking for a snack with a specific dietary attribute that suits your needs, and you can eat the nuts it contains. Gluten-free, lactose-free and suitable for someone with a food allergy are different things. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains the difference between an allergy and an intolerance.
You want to keep the product information with the snacks and have allergen information available when serving them. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what information sellers of unpackaged food must be able to provide to customers.
First, check that the ingredients and warnings are suitable for what you need to avoid. Then look at the dietary information and packaging for taking snacks with you or handing them out.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding a specific allergen | Read the ingredients and warnings for the substance you need to avoid. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, I want to check the exact packaging to see which nut or peanut may be present. Around 31% of consumers put avoiding that allergen first. |
| Choosing a gluten-free snack | Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging. | If I avoid gluten, I also want to check the information about the finished product and possible cross-contamination. Around 25% of consumers say avoiding gluten is their primary purchasing need. |
| Distinguishing lactose intolerance from a milk allergy | Work out whether you need to avoid lactose or milk ingredients, then check the relevant information. | I want to know whether my dietary concern is lactose or an allergy to milk proteins; they’re not the same. Around 19% of consumers put lactose or milk first when checking a product. |
| Taking snacks with you and handing them out | Check the packaging on offer, storage instructions and how the snacks will be served. | If I’m handing out snacks, I want to keep the packaging information with them and prevent contact with other snacks. Around 13% of consumers say taking snacks with them and handing them out is their main practical concern. |
| Buying enough for a group | Check the size and ingredients of the pack you plan to take with you. | When I’m buying for a group, I want to plan the quantity without losing sight of whether the snacks suit everyone’s dietary needs. Around 12% of consumers put the quantity needed for a group first. |
A specific dietary claim doesn’t tell you whether a product contains other allergens you need to avoid. Albert Heijn lists AH Unsalted Almonds as gluten-free and lactose-free, but the product contains almonds and carries warnings about peanuts and other nuts.
Read the full ingredients list and warnings for the specific substance you need to avoid.
The ingredient information for Jumbo Unsalted Nut Mix lists peanuts alongside various types of nuts. The product name alone doesn’t give you the full picture.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging, not just the name or front of the pack.
After buying a snack, it could come into contact with other snacks. A warning or suitable packaging won’t automatically prevent products from touching when they’re served.
Keep the product information available and prevent contact with snacks containing the substance you need to avoid.
Handing snacks out separately takes extra organisation and may require separate serving equipment.
Albert Heijn says that Duyvis Unsalted Almonds 4 x 30 g has been discontinued. An old pack doesn’t mean that version is still available.
Check the current product with the retailer before relying on a particular pack.
If the individual portion packs aren’t available, another product or pack format may require extra planning.
Duyvis describes its Unsalted Nutmix Walnut as an unsalted mix of almonds, walnuts, cashews and hazelnuts. The manufacturer mentions individual portion packs for when you’re out and about.
Albert Heijn lists AH Unsalted Almonds as gluten-free and lactose-free.
Jumbo Unsalted Nut Mix is a blend; the product information lists its ingredients and allergens.
Lidl lists unsalted Californian pistachios as a product type.
ALDI lists a 500 g pack of unsalted TRADER JOE'S nut mix containing almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
PLUS offers unsalted individual nuts and nut mixes, including almonds and an unroasted nut mix.
The product selection below ranges from chestnuts and almonds to cashews, peanuts and a nut mix. Check each product separately against its ingredients and allergen information; these options aren’t interchangeable for every dietary need.
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The product information states that these are gluten-free; check separately whether chestnuts are suitable if you need to avoid a nut.
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A roasted, unsalted option if you can eat cashews; the product information also lists other tree nuts.
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This option is only suitable if you can eat peanuts; the product information notes the possible presence of cashews.
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The individual sachets may be convenient for handing out. The mix contains walnuts, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts.
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A single-nut almond option to consider if almonds suit your diet; the product name specifies almond kernels.
Don’t assume so based on that distinction alone. A peanut is a legume, not a nut, but that doesn’t prove it’s safe for you to eat. Base your choice on your diagnosed allergy and the product information. Don’t experiment on your own, and ask your healthcare professional if you’re unsure.
No. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while a food allergy is a reaction to proteins. A lactose-free label alone therefore doesn’t tell you whether a snack is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must be available before purchase. For nuts, it should be clear which types are involved. Information can be given verbally under certain conditions: it must be readily available, also in writing or electronically for staff and inspectors, and there must be a visible notice telling customers they can ask for it.
It warns that the product may contain an unintended substance as a result of cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that such a warning is based on a risk assessment. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has been enforcing the new rules on allergen information. Examples of warnings it gives include ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’.
Don’t automatically choose whole nuts for young children. Albert Heijn warns that young children can choke on nuts and peanuts.
