Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents of toddlers

For children under 4, the product format matters more than the convenience of individual packs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of nuts.

Lunchbox planners

If you’re preparing food for childcare or school, you need to be able to check the ingredients and allergen information. Only pack a product if it also meets the local policy.

Families sharing their food cupboard

If you’re organising food for several family members, keep whole nuts for other family members separate from the format you choose for your toddler. A pack of individual sachets and a jar serve different purposes.

What should you look for when choosing?

For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of nuts. So check the product format first, then look at allergens, packaging and storage.

What to consider What should you check? Who should give this more weight?
Age-appropriate product format Check whether the pack contains whole nuts or nut butter. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter instead of nuts. If you’re choosing something for a child under 4, the product format matters more than the convenience of small sachets. Around 29% of consumers say an age-appropriate format is their top priority.
Allergens and venue policy Read the ingredients and allergen warnings, and ask the childcare provider or school what’s allowed. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) lists peanuts and nuts separately. If you’re managing an allergy or need to follow the policy at the place where food will be eaten, check in advance which ingredients and warnings are relevant. Around 23% of consumers put allergens and venue approval first.
Packaging convenience Compare the number of individual packs, the weight per sachet and the product format. Duyvis lists its Unsalted Nutmix Walnut as a 4x30gr multipack; this is not a recommended portion for toddlers. If you’re preparing portions to share or packing a lunchbox, you’ll want a pack size that suits how you plan to use it, without losing sight of the product format. Around 18% of consumers say ease of preparation is their main consideration.
Ingredients Check the full ingredients list for the exact variety you’ve chosen. The word ‘natural’ alone isn’t enough to establish what it contains. If you’re choosing nut butter for a toddler, check whether the variety fits the advice on added sugar and salt. Around 18% of consumers put checking ingredients at the top of their list.
Storage and stock Choose a jar size that suits your household and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping a jar of peanut butter tightly closed and in a dry place. If you’re organising supplies for several mealtimes, choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it. Around 12% of consumers say storage and stock are their main considerations.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a small or unsalted pack is suitable as a toddler snack

    The packaging and whether salt has been added don’t change the product format. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter instead of nuts.

    Rule out whole nuts as a snack for your toddler to eat as they are, then compare suitable product formats.

  • Taking a multipack’s contents as a portion recommendation

    The stated quantity describes the pack size, not whether the product is suitable for a toddler or what portion they should have.

    Treat the manufacturer’s pack size, your family’s supplies and the product format for your toddler as separate choices.

  • Relying on ‘natural’ or a familiar brand name

    The advice on nut butter for under-4s also relates to its ingredients. Product information can vary between varieties.

    Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.

  • Assuming a jar offers the same solution as a multipack

    A jar and individual sachets have different packaging and need to be prepared differently.

    Think of nut butter as an alternative product format and follow the storage instructions on the packaging after opening.

    A jar needs to be closed and stored after use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping peanut butter tightly closed and in a dry place.

Brands and product ranges for reference

The product ranges mentioned show a variety of packaging and product formats. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a particular variety is suitable for a toddler.

Duyvis

Duyvis lists its Unsalted Nutmix Walnut as a 4x30gr multipack.

  • The manufacturer’s pack size makes the number and weight of the individual packs clear.
  • This pack size is not a recommended toddler portion. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, whole nuts are not suitable for children under 4 to eat as they are.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH 100% Natural Peanut Butter as a product range in the alternative nut butter category.

  • This range is useful for comparing a jar of peanut butter as a different product format to a nut multipack.
  • Check the current packaging and ingredients for the exact variety. The product name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s a multipack or suitable for an individual toddler.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers several peanut butter and nut butter varieties, including different jar sizes and varieties made with different nuts.

  • The range information helps you compare varieties and jar sizes separately.
  • A jar isn’t a multipack of individually wrapped portions. Check the ingredients and exact variety.

Lidl

Lidl’s product page lists 100% Natural Peanut Butter in a 600 g jar and describes it as having no added ingredients.

  • The published jar size gives you a specific quantity to consider when choosing supplies.
  • The jar isn’t a multipack. Check the current packaging, and don’t take the product description as confirmation that it’s suitable for toddlers.

Aldi

ALDI lists HELAES 100% Peanut Butter with the description ‘Peanuts only’.

  • The product description gives you a starting point for checking the ingredients of the exact variety.
  • Check the current packaging and exact variety. The description doesn’t confirm that it’s an individual multipack.

PLUS

PLUS lists 100% peanut butter in a 350 g jar.

  • The stated jar size can help you choose how much to keep in stock.
  • The jar size isn’t a recommended toddler portion or proof that it’s a multipack. PLUS recommends checking the packaging, as ingredients and allergen information can change.

Choosing a product at Joybuy

This Joybuy product selection features peanut butter as an alternative format for toddlers. It’s a jar, not a multipack of whole nuts.

PCD Peanut Butter 350g

PCD Peanut Butter 350g

A relevant option if you’re looking for peanut butter rather than a multipack of whole nuts for your toddler. Check that the exact variety fits the advice on added sugar and salt, and take any allergies into account.

Packaging: jar. Contents: 350g.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I give my toddler a small pack of nuts to eat as they are?

No. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of nuts, because of the risk of choking. The amount in a sachet doesn’t change that advice.

Are peanuts and nuts the same category on a label?

No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists peanuts and nuts separately. If relevant to the allergy you’re managing, check both entries.

What rules apply to allergen warnings on Dutch labels?

Allergen information must appear on the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also outlines Dutch rules, in force since 1 January 2026, on how and when food businesses must warn about the possible unintended presence of allergens, for example due to cross-contamination. These labelling rules don’t prove that an individual product is suitable for a child with an allergy.

How should I store an opened jar of peanut butter?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends closing the jar tightly and storing it in a dry place. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging; this isn’t a guarantee of how long homemade lunchbox food will keep.

Is a larger jar automatically the most convenient option for stocking up?

Not necessarily. Choose a size that suits your household and follow the storage instructions for the variety you’ve chosen. Jar sizes aren’t toddler portion recommendations and don’t replace a multipack of individual sachets.