Students avoiding peanuts or nuts
If you need to avoid peanuts or tree nuts, start with the ingredients and allergen information, not a general free-from claim. Stichting Voedselallergie and Voedingscentrum treat peanuts and tree nuts separately.
Who is this guide for?
Students avoiding gluten or lactose
If you can eat nuts but avoid gluten or lactose, check the information for the specific variety and look out for any flavour coatings. For example, Albert Heijn lists these features for AH Notenmix ongezouten 500 g.
Students who regularly take nuts with them
If you can eat the ingredients and want an unsalted snack, also check the packaging, portion information and storage instructions. Voedingscentrum discusses unsalted nuts, while product pages from retailers including Jumbo give storage advice for specific varieties.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out which ingredient or substance you need to avoid. Then check the information for the exact variety. If the canteen serves loose portions, ask for the allergen information before making your choice.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should pay attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Check which nuts and peanuts are listed in the ingredients, and read any warnings about possible cross-contamination. If you’re buying a loose portion from the canteen, ask for the information before you buy. | If you need to avoid peanuts or a particular tree nut, you’ll want to know what the snack contains and what warnings are included. Around 38% of consumers prioritise avoiding peanuts or specific tree nuts. |
| Gluten or lactose | Look for an explicit statement for the exact variety and check the ingredients too, especially for products with a flavour coating. | If you can eat nuts but avoid gluten or lactose, check the features of the variety you’ve chosen. Around 31% of consumers make one of these dietary requirements their first selection criterion. |
| Unsalted ingredients | Check that it’s the unsalted variety and look at the ingredients on that pack. | If you’re mainly looking for an unsalted snack and can eat the ingredients, don’t rely on the product category alone. Around 16% of consumers prioritise an unsalted option. |
| Portioning and storage | Check the pack size, portion information and storage instructions for the specific product. | If you want to take a snack with you or divide it between several lunches, portion sizes and storage are practical considerations. Around 15% of consumers give portioning and portability top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming gluten-free or lactose-free means allergen-free
A product may be labelled gluten-free or lactose-free and still contain tree nuts or carry a warning about possible peanuts. For example, AH Notenmix ongezouten lists both features, but contains tree nuts and may contain peanuts.
Let the ingredient you need to avoid guide your choice, and read the allergen information alongside any free-from claim.
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Treating a crunchy coating like plain nuts
A flavour coating can add other ingredients. According to Duyvis, the Borrelnootjes Cocktail variety contains wheat and lactose from milk, as well as peanuts.
Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact flavour variety. Don’t infer what it contains from the word ‘peanuts’ alone.
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Assuming that no peanuts as an ingredient means it’s peanut-free
The Jumbo and PLUS nut mixes reviewed carry a warning about possible peanuts, even though peanuts aren’t listed as an ingredient in the recipes described.
Read the ingredients and the warning about possible cross-contamination as separate pieces of information.
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Choosing a loose portion from the canteen without allergen information
Unpackaged products don’t necessarily have information on an individual pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that food providers must inform customers about allergens present. For nuts, it must be clear which types are involved.
Ask for information about the specific portion before choosing it.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
The varieties reviewed range from unsalted peanuts to peanuts with a flavour coating.
- Jumbo’s product information for Duyvis Pinda's Ongezouten lists peanuts and sunflower oil.
- According to Duyvis, Borrelnootjes Cocktail contains wheat and lactose from milk. Both varieties contain peanuts; the unsalted variety also carries a warning about possible nuts.
Albert Heijn
AH Notenmix ongezouten 500 g is a specific mix labelled gluten-free and lactose-free on the Dutch product page.
- The retailer’s page lists these two features for this particular variety.
- The same variety contains tree nuts and may contain peanuts, so these claims don’t make the mix suitable for everyone avoiding allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo Ongebrande Notenmix 200 g is an unroasted mix containing four named types of nuts.
- Jumbo lists almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts, and provides information about ingredients and storage.
- The product information warns that it may contain peanuts. A simple recipe isn’t a general free-from guarantee.
PLUS
PLUS Notenmix ongebrand ongezouten 500 g is an unroasted, unsalted mix of four types of nuts.
- The product page lists walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews, along with their percentages in the mix.
- The same page warns that it may contain peanuts and other tree nuts. Unroasted and unsalted doesn’t mean allergen-free.
Lidl
Lidl describes its 200 g Notenmix as unroasted and unsalted.
- These features are listed for the product described by the retailer.
- The product description doesn’t claim that it’s gluten-free, lactose-free, peanut-free or nut-free. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
ALDI
ALDI describes a 500 g pack of unsalted Trader Joe's Notenmelange containing four types of tree nuts.
- The listed ingredients are almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
- This mix isn’t suitable if you need to avoid any of these nuts. Check the current packaging for allergen information too.
Nut snacks at Joybuy
Joybuy products for nut snacks, including unsalted varieties and portion packs. Check each product’s ingredients and allergen information to make sure it suits your diet.
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g'woon Unsalted peanuts 250 g
Suitable if you can eat peanuts and are looking for an unsalted snack.
The product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil; the product may contain cashews.
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Titiz Roasted chestnuts 125 g
Could suit you if you can eat chestnuts and want a snack that’s ready to eat.
The product description lists 100% chestnuts and says it’s gluten-free. Check the current packaging and allergen information.
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g'woon Roasted, unsalted cashews 200 g
Suitable if you can eat cashews and are looking for an unsalted snack.
The product name specifies roasted, unsalted cashews.
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g'woon Raw, unsalted nut mix 200 g
Suitable if you can eat the listed types of nuts and are looking for an unsalted mix.
The product description lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews, and warns that it may contain traces of peanuts.
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J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix 750 g / 30 sachets
Could suit you if you can eat the listed tree nuts and want individual portions to take with you.
The product description lists 30 individually wrapped 25 g portions containing walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and dried fruit.
Frequently asked questions
Are peanuts the same as tree nuts when choosing foods based on allergens?
No. Peanuts are legumes and are treated separately from tree nuts. Check both listings, and don’t automatically swap a tree-nut product for one containing peanuts, or vice versa.
Does lactose-free also mean a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No, you can’t tell that from a lactose-free claim. Lactose is milk sugar; if you have a milk allergy, check the milk allergen information rather than relying on the lactose-free claim alone.
Does a university canteen have to provide allergen information for loose nuts?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food providers must inform customers about allergens present in unpackaged food. For nuts, it must be clear which types are involved. Ask for the information before choosing your portion.
Do the rules for warnings about possible cross-contamination already apply?
Since 1 January 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has checked during inspections of pre-packed products that cross-contamination warnings are displayed correctly on labels. This kind of precautionary warning is about possible cross-contamination, not an ingredient deliberately added to the recipe.
What should you do if the online product information differs from the packaging?
Check the packaging before eating the product. If the information conflicts, ask the retailer or manufacturer for clarification. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergy information can change, so it’s important to check the current product packaging when making your choice.