Don’t choose based on a general ‘free from’ label. First decide which ingredient you want to avoid. Plain, unsalted nuts may be suitable if you can tolerate that particular type; if you have an allergy, also check for warnings about possible traces. A gluten-free or lactose-free option does not, by itself, tell you whether it is suitable for a different allergy.
You’re looking for a coffee-break snack without the ingredient you react to. Peanuts and tree nuts need to be checked separately; a short ingredients list doesn’t rule out a warning about possible traces. The Food Allergy Foundation treats peanuts separately from tree nuts.
You want to know whether plain nuts are a better fit than a flavoured version. Avoiding gluten, lactose intolerance and cow’s milk allergy are different considerations. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between lactose and milk proteins.
You can tolerate nuts and are looking for an unsalted snack you can portion out. Check the recipe, serving size and storage advice; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends varying the types of unsalted nuts you eat.
The NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) emphasises that consumers must be able to check allergen information before buying. So check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces: these are separate parts of your decision.
Suitable when: you can tolerate one specific type of nut and want a simple recipe. The ingredients list for PLUS almonds names almonds.
Bear in mind: the PLUS product also warns that it may contain peanuts and other types of nuts, so having one ingredient doesn’t mean other allergens are absent.
Suitable when: you can tolerate the types in the mix and want some variety. Jumbo lists almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and walnuts in the mix reviewed.
Bear in mind: more types of nuts mean more ingredients to check; Jumbo also warns that the product may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Suitable when: you’re after a savoury coating and the full recipe fits your diet.
Bear in mind: Duyvis Almonds Original warns that the product may contain wheat and peanuts; Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail lists milk, peanuts and gluten as allergens.
Suitable when: you want to avoid nuts or are looking for an alternative to share at a coffee break.
Bear in mind: a different product category isn’t automatically suitable; check the ingredients and allergen information for those products too.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding peanuts or specific tree nuts | Check which types of nuts and peanuts are listed as ingredients, and also read any warning about possible traces. | If you want to avoid peanuts or a particular tree nut, you’ll need to assess both parts separately. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding peanuts or a specific tree nut. |
| Gluten in flavourings and processed varieties | Read the full ingredients list and check for any mention of wheat, gluten or a gluten-free claim. | If you want to avoid gluten, the flavouring matters too, not just the nut itself. Around 29% of consumers prioritise avoiding gluten. |
| Avoiding milk or limiting lactose | Decide whether you want to avoid milk ingredients or lactose, then check the recipe and any associated warnings. | If milk or lactose is your main concern, it helps to treat them as two separate considerations. Around 21% of consumers prioritise avoiding milk or lactose. |
| An unsalted snack for your coffee break | Check whether salt has been added, the serving size on the pack and the storage advice. | If you can tolerate nuts and are mainly looking for an unsalted snack that’s easy to portion out, convenience is key. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this everyday snacking need. |
Tree nuts and peanuts are separate allergens to consider. A statement about another ingredient doesn’t automatically make a nut product suitable for everyone.
First identify what you want to avoid, then check the ingredients and warnings for the specific product. Don’t rely on a general claim such as ‘allergy-free nuts’.
PLUS almonds list almonds as an ingredient, but also warn that the product may contain peanuts and other types of nuts.
Read the ingredients list and the warning about possible traces separately.
How a product is prepared and its salt content don’t tell you which allergens may be present. For example, Duyvis says that Almonds Original may contain wheat and peanuts.
Use these product features to guide your taste or dietary choices, not as proof that an allergen is absent.
Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail lists milk and gluten as well as peanuts.
Check the full recipe, including the coating, even when the nut itself seems to fit your choice.
A relevant choice for savoury, seasoned and coated nut snacks; assess each variety as a separate recipe.
A supermarket and own-brand option where you should check the information for the specific product.
The 200 g unroasted nut mix reviewed contains four listed types of nuts.
The walnuts mentioned are unroasted, making them relevant if you’re looking for a single type of nut.
The 500 g Trader Joe’s Unsalted Nut Mix mentioned contains almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
The 200 g unroasted, unsalted almonds reviewed are an option if you can tolerate almonds and want a product with a single ingredient.
These Joybuy products are nuts for a coffee break. Only choose a type that suits what you want to avoid, and check the product information; this selection is not a general allergen-free guarantee.
No image available
Suitable if you can tolerate cashews and are looking for an unsalted option; avoid this product if you need to avoid cashews.
The product name specifies roasted cashews and a 200 g pack.
No image available
An option if chestnuts fit your diet; the product information lists chestnut kernels as an ingredient.
The product name specifies a 400 g pack. Check the product information and packaging for allergens that are relevant to you.
No image available
Suitable if you can tolerate walnuts and want to crack them yourself; bear in mind that they need preparing before you eat them.
The product name specifies walnuts in their shells and a 128 g pack. Check the product information for any relevant warnings.
No image available
An option if pecans fit your diet; the product name specifies pecan kernels.
The product name specifies a 100 g pack. Check the product’s ingredients and allergen information before choosing.
No image available
Suitable if you can tolerate pistachios and are looking for a 1 kg pack; check first that the quantity suits your needs.
The product name specifies pistachios, the descriptions Large-Kernel and Unbleached, and a 1 kg pack. Check the product information for the full ingredients and allergen details.
No. A peanut is a legume, not a tree nut. The Food Allergy Foundation therefore treats peanuts and tree nuts separately; check for both if they’re relevant to what you want to avoid.
No. Lactose is milk sugar, while a cow’s milk allergy involves milk proteins. So choosing a lactose-free option doesn’t prove that it contains no milk ingredients; check the ingredients and warnings for the specific product.
From 1 January 2026, the NVWA checks during inspections that labels correctly warn about the possible unintended presence of allergens. Permitted wording includes ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. These are labelling rules for suppliers, not an individual assessment of whether a product is suitable for you.
Yes. According to the NVWA, allergen information must be available before purchase. For unpackaged products, this information may be displayed on a card or provided verbally, for example; it must be clear that you can ask for it.
Follow the storage advice on your own packaging. For the nut mix reviewed, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place; for the almonds reviewed, PLUS recommends storing them in a dry, dark place.
