To keep track of the energy in your office snack, weigh your portion and compare products on the same basis. The Voedingscentrum puts the energy in 25 g of unsalted nuts at 164 kcal. A small portion doesn’t make nuts low in calories: according to the European Commission, solid foods can only carry that claim if they contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g.
You want to know how much energy you get from the amount of nuts you actually eat. Weighing your portion and comparing products by the same quantity is more useful than relying on a claim that nuts are low in calories.
You’re buying for colleagues and want to keep products identifiable, make allergen information available and store supplies according to the advice on the packaging.
You’re looking for unsalted nuts or peanuts, then choosing based on the product type and pack size. Unsalted doesn’t automatically mean low in calories.
First, compare the nutritional information for the exact product and decide on your portion size. Then check the product information for sharing, and choose an amount that suits how much you’ll use and where you’ll store it.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most relevant for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g for the exact product and weigh your portion. | If I want to know how much energy is in my snack, I check the weight I actually eat. Around 33% of consumers put portion size and energy first. |
| Unsalted ingredients | Check that the product is labelled unsalted, and look at salt and energy as separate figures. | If you’re looking for an unsalted snack, don’t confuse that quality with a low energy value. Around 27% of consumers prioritise unsalted products. |
| Allergens when sharing | Keep the information on the packaging available; the NVWA lists peanuts and nuts separately as allergens. | If colleagues are helping themselves from the same bowl, I want to be able to check which allergens apply to that specific product. Around 20% of consumers prioritise clear allergen information. |
| Stock and storage | Choose an amount that suits office consumption and follow the product’s storage advice. | If the bowl won’t be emptied quickly, I want to be able to store the contents as directed on the packaging. Around 20% of consumers put suitable stock levels and freshness first when choosing. |
Salt content and energy are different things. The product information shown by Flink for Duyvis Unsalted Peanuts 235 g lists 614 kcal per 100 g, despite a salt content of less than 0.01 g per 100 g.
Check the nutritional information separately and calculate based on the portion you weigh out. Don’t treat the word ‘unsalted’ as a calorie claim.
The contents of a bag are a supply to snack from; the portion you actually eat may be different.
Weigh out a portion and use the product’s nutritional information per 100 g to calculate the energy in that amount.
If products get mixed up, it may no longer be clear which allergen information applies to the contents.
Keep products identifiable and retain the packaging or relevant information. If you have an allergy, check the exact products and how they’re being shared.
A relevant range if you’re specifically looking for unsalted peanuts.
An option to consider if you’re looking for unsalted cashew nuts.
A specific example of unsalted almonds in a larger pack.
Alesto is a product range that includes nuts and walnuts.
TRADER JOE’S is worth considering if you’re looking for roasted, unsalted cashew nuts.
A relevant range if you’re looking for unroasted, unsalted cashew nuts.
Nuts and peanuts available on Joybuy to compare for the office snack bowl. Check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen information for the exact pack before sharing it.
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An option if you’re looking for unsalted peanuts; weigh out your own portion.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for cashew nuts for the snack bowl; compare the nutritional information on the packaging and weigh out your portion.
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An option if you’re looking for almonds; check the nutritional information and ingredients for this variant before choosing a portion.
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The product name lists five 23 g portions; check the ingredients and allergen information before putting them in a shared snack bowl.
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An option if you’re looking for unsalted almonds; weigh out your portion and follow the storage advice on the packaging.
No. Eating a small portion doesn’t change the nutrition claim for the product itself. According to the European Commission, solid foods can only be described as low in calories, or with a claim that means the same thing, if they contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. So describe a weighed amount as a portion choice, not as proof that the product is low in calories.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g for the exact product by the number of grams you weigh out, then divide by 100. Flink lists 614 kcal per 100 g for Duyvis Unsalted Peanuts 235 g. Based on that figure, a 15 g portion would contain 92.1 kcal. This is a calculation using the product value shown, not nutritional advice.
No. The 25 g figure is the amount used for the Voedingscentrum’s calorie example. It isn’t automatically a personal or daily recommendation for every colleague.
Keep the packaging or make the information for the exact product available by the bowl. The NVWA lists peanuts and nuts separately as allergens. When sharing, don’t assume a general label such as ‘mixed nuts’ provides enough information for every colleague.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and take into account the conditions in which the snack bowl is used. For opened unsalted cashew nuts, the Voedingscentrum gives six months in a kitchen cupboard as general guidance. It also lists a rancid smell or taste, a chewy texture or mould as signs of quality loss or spoilage. This isn’t a guarantee for a snack bowl that’s opened frequently.
