Choose a snack based on the ingredient you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and cross-contamination warnings on the packaging. Nuts may themselves be the allergen; the Food Allergy Foundation also distinguishes between peanuts and tree nuts. Lactose intolerance and milk allergy require different checks too, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains.
If you can eat nuts but need to avoid gluten, check both the finished product and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains why these warnings matter when choosing a product.
Lactose intolerance and milk allergy involve different components. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes lactose, the sugar in milk, from milk proteins.
If you’re hosting guests with allergies, you’ll want to know which nuts or peanuts are in the snack and what warnings are shown on the packaging. A general description is no substitute for this product information.
Start with the ingredient that needs to be avoided; only then compare flavour, snack type and storage. The percentages below show which primary purchasing consideration comes first in these scenarios.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding the relevant allergen | Check the named type of nut, peanuts and any cross-contamination warnings. The Food Allergy Foundation distinguishes peanuts from tree nuts. | If I need to avoid a specific ingredient because of an allergy, I want to know exactly what’s in the snack. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding the relevant allergen. |
| Gluten-free suitability | Read the ingredients and warnings for the finished product, even for a simple nut snack. AH notes that Duyvis Oven roasted almonds may contain wheat and gluten-containing cereals. | If I need to avoid gluten, I want to look beyond the main nut and consider how the product is made and any warnings. Around 29% of consumers give gluten-free suitability top priority. |
| Lactose or milk proteins | Work out which restriction applies to you and check the product information accordingly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between lactose intolerance and milk allergy. | If I need to avoid lactose or milk proteins, I want to know which of the two is relevant to my choice. Around 21% of consumers start with avoiding milk as their main purchasing consideration. |
| Snack type and storage | Compare a single type of nut with a mix, and check the storage advice. ALDI’s Trader Joe’s nut mix lists almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts. | Once I’m clear about my dietary requirements, I look at variety and how to store the snack after opening. Around 14% of consumers put snack type or storage first when making their choice. |
A product that suits a gluten-free or milk-free diet may still contain nuts. The right snack depends on the specific ingredient you need to avoid.
First, be clear about which allergen matters to you, then check the ingredients and warnings for the product you’ve chosen.
These product features don’t tell you anything about gluten. AH notes that Duyvis Oven roasted almonds may contain wheat and gluten-containing cereals.
Don’t rely on preparation method or salt information instead of checking the ingredients list and allergen information.
A mix may contain several types of nuts. For example, ALDI’s Trader Joe’s nut mix lists almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
Check every ingredient listed, and don’t choose a mix if you need to avoid any of them.
The range includes almond snacks and cocktail nuts.
The own-brand range includes AH Unsalted Almonds.
Jumbo lists Unsalted Almonds 140 g as a specific nut product.
Lidl sells nuts, dried fruit and party snacks under the Alesto name.
ALDI lists a 500 g unsalted Trader Joe’s nut mix.
The products below are individual nuts and nut snacks. Only choose them if you can eat the type of nut listed, and check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before your snack night.
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Suitable for a snack occasion if you can eat almonds; the product description says the almond kernels are ready to eat.
The description states 100% almond kernels. Contains almonds.
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A snack option if you can eat peanuts; the product description says these whole boiled peanuts are suitable for snacking.
Contains peanuts.
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A suitable unsalted peanut snack if you can eat peanuts; the product title identifies this variety as unsalted.
The description lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil. Contains peanuts and may contain cashew nuts.
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A roasted, unsalted snack option if you can eat cashew nuts.
The product title says roasted and unsalted; the description lists cashew nuts as an ingredient. Contains cashew nuts.
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A snack mix if you can eat all the types of nuts listed.
The product title says raw and unsalted. The description lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashew nuts; the product may also contain peanuts.
No. The Food Allergy Foundation describes peanuts as legumes and distinguishes them from tree nuts. That doesn’t automatically make peanuts or another type of nut suitable for you; check the specific ingredient and product information.
No. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while a milk allergy involves milk proteins. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains the difference; check the product information against the restriction that applies to you.
No. The name or main nut doesn’t tell you everything about the finished product. Check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging; AH notes that Duyvis Oven roasted almonds may contain wheat and gluten-containing cereals.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) gives the wording ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. From 1 January 2026, the NVWA will oversee the new rules. The warning provides product information, but it isn’t a personal guarantee that a product is suitable for everyone.
Yes. According to the NVWA’s Q&A, the production date is the key factor: stock packaged earlier may be sold after that date as long as the food is safe. The transition period for updating labels ended on 1 January 2026.
