Start by checking the specific allergen you need to avoid: gluten-free or lactose-free does not mean a product is also free from nuts or peanuts. If you can tolerate the nuts it contains, a product with a suitable dietary claim may be an option. Also check the ingredients, cross-contamination warnings and portion size.
You’re looking for a morning snack that suits the specific allergen you need to avoid. Check which nuts and peanuts it contains, and read the warning about possible cross-contamination too; the product name or the word ‘unsalted’ won’t answer these questions.
You can tolerate the nuts in the product, but are looking for a suitable dietary claim. Gluten-free and lactose-free are separate claims; lactose-free on its own says nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also distinguishes between lactose intolerance and milk allergy.
You want to prepare a snack in advance and are thinking about portion size and storage. Make this practical choice only after checking that the ingredients and any warnings are suitable for the avoidance advice you’ve been given.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should give this more weight? |
|---|---|---|
| The allergen to avoid | Check the nuts listed, whether peanuts are an ingredient, and any warning about the possible presence of allergens. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, I want to know first whether the ingredients and warnings are suitable. Consumers who prioritise allergen avoidance make up around 38% of consumers in this choice breakdown. |
| The dietary claim | Look for the claim you need, and also check the ingredients and allergen warnings. | When I avoid gluten or lactose, I look for the relevant claim without confusing it with allergen information. Consumers for whom a specific dietary claim is the main priority make up around 31%. |
| Ingredients and preparation | Read the ingredients list: unsalted does not mean free from oil or allergens. Also check whether it contains one type of nut or a mix. | If I can tolerate the nuts in it, a simple, unsalted product may be my main preference. Consumers who prioritise these ingredients make up around 16%. |
| Portion size and storage | Check the portion size, net weight and storage instructions. Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion and seven portions per pack for AH Naturel unsalted mix. | If I want to prepare a snack in advance, portioning it out and storing it properly are practical considerations. Consumers who prioritise portion size and portability make up around 15%. |
A gluten-free or lactose-free claim doesn’t rule out a product containing nuts or peanuts. Check the specific allergen you need to avoid separately.
Start with that allergen, then read the full ingredients list and warnings on the packaging.
Jumbo Noten Mix Ongezouten contains peanuts as an ingredient. The ingredients list for the PLUS Notenmix examined lists several types of nuts and warns that peanuts and other nuts may be present.
Use ‘unsalted’ or ‘vegan’ only to check for that particular preference; check allergens separately.
A warning about the possible presence of an allergen may affect your choice. The NVWA describes precautionary allergen labelling (PAL), such as ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’; these warnings are based on a risk assessment.
Read the warning on the current packaging and follow the avoidance advice that applies to your situation.
Net weight and portion information are different things. Portioning the snack in advance makes it clear how much you’re setting aside for the morning.
Check the portion size and storage instructions for the specific product, and seal the pack properly after use.
Duyvis Unsalted Almonds is an example of an unsalted snack listing just one type of nut.
AH Naturel unsalted mix is an example for anyone specifically looking for a gluten-free or lactose-free option.
Jumbo Noten Mix Ongezouten 200 g shows why you should check the ingredients of a nut mix individually.
PLUS Notenmix ongebrand ongezouten is an example of a product for people who can tolerate the listed ingredients.
Lidl lists unsalted Californian pistachios as a product variety.
ALDI lists a 500 g unsalted nut mix under the Trader Joe’s product name.
This selection focuses on a ready-to-eat snack for those looking for a gluten-free option. Check whether chestnuts are suitable for your diet and avoidance advice; gluten-free does not mean allergen-free.
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The product information states that it is gluten-free and describes the chestnuts as peeled, baked and ready to eat.
The ingredients are described as 100% chestnuts; the pack contains 125 g.
Contains chestnuts and is not suitable if you need to avoid them. The statement about the 14 main EU allergens does not provide general confirmation that the product is suitable for every individual’s avoidance advice.
No. Peanuts are legumes and are treated separately from nuts in allergen information. That doesn’t automatically make peanuts a suitable substitute if you have a nut allergy: check the product information and follow the avoidance advice that applies to you.
Not on the basis of a ‘lactose-free’ claim alone. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while a milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, check the information about milk as an allergen.
For precautionary warnings, the NVWA gives examples such as ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’. The warning is based on a risk assessment. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has overseen the new rules for prepacked products; the absence of a warning is not a general declaration that a product is free from all allergens.
Don’t use the product as part of your avoidance diet until the discrepancy has been resolved. Keep the packaging and ask the retailer or manufacturer to clarify the information for this variety; ingredients and allergen information can change.
Follow the product’s storage instructions. For AH Naturel unsalted mix, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark, dry place and sealing the pack properly; PLUS recommends storing it somewhere dry and dark.
