Parents with a specific dietary requirement
You’re looking for an after-school snack that suits, for example, a gluten-free diet or lactose intolerance. Check which characteristic is stated for the exact product and what other allergens are listed.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents packing food for school or an after-school club
You want something that suits your child and complies with the rules at their class or childcare setting. Where your child eats and any local allergy rules may determine whether nuts are an option.
Parents looking for an everyday snack
You want a practical after-school snack and your child has no relevant allergy restrictions. In that case, whether the nuts are unsalted, how they’re prepared and how your child eats them may all be factors.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check whether nuts are suitable for your child’s dietary needs and allowed where they’ll be eating. Then compare the variety and how you’ll serve the snack.
The percentages show the first decision-making criterion for consumers choosing an after-school snack in each row.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary suitability | Be clear about what you want to avoid, then check the ingredients, allergen information and warnings together on the exact pack. | If I’m choosing a snack to suit a particular diet, I want to know whether this specific product is suitable and what other allergens are listed. Around 36% of consumers put dietary suitability first. |
| School and after-school club rules | Ask which products or allergens are excluded under the current rules where your child will be eating. | Before packing a snack for school or an after-school club, I want to know whether that setting allows nuts or peanuts. School rules are the first thing around 29% of consumers consider. |
| Everyday snack | Choose between unsalted and salted or seasoned varieties, and assess dietary characteristics separately. | If you’re looking for a regular snack and your child has no relevant dietary restrictions, unsalted may be an important characteristic. The Voedingscentrum lists unsalted nuts as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12; around 21% of consumers put their everyday snack choice first. |
| Preparation and storage | Choose a form that suits the way your child eats, and follow the storage instructions on the pack. | If I want to pack a snack for my child, I make sure they can eat it safely and that the packaging is practical to store. Preparation and convenience come first for around 14% of consumers. |
Common purchasing mistakes
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Reading ‘gluten-free’ as ‘free from all allergens’
A product can be gluten-free and lactose-free yet still contain almonds or list other nuts and peanuts as possible allergens. For example, Albert Heijn describes AH Unsalted Almonds this way; Jeroen Bosch Hospital advises avoiding foods containing nuts or traces of nuts if your child has a nut allergy.
Read the full allergen information for the exact product, and don’t assume that a claim applies to other products from the same brand.
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Packing a snack for school just because your child eats it at home
Your child’s school or after-school club may have its own rules about nuts, even if your child can eat the snack at home. OBS De Venen outlines specific rules for its younger classes; this local policy doesn’t automatically apply elsewhere.
Check the current rules with the school or childcare setting before packing the snack.
If nuts aren’t allowed where your child eats, you may need to provide a different snack.
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Confusing ‘oven roasted’ with unsalted or gluten-free
Duyvis Almonds Original is a different variety from Duyvis Unsalted Almonds. The manufacturer says that Original contains salt in the seasoning mix and may contain wheat, peanuts and various nuts.
Assess the preparation method, salt content and allergen information as separate product characteristics.
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Assuming the portion on the pack is automatically right for a child
The amount shown on a pack doesn’t automatically tell you what form or quantity is right for your child. The Voedingscentrum warns of the risk of choking on whole nuts and peanuts.
Choose a form that suits your child and encourage them to eat slowly. Take extra care to supervise them when they’re eating whole nuts.
Relevant brands and varieties
Duyvis
The Unsalted Almonds and Almonds Original varieties reviewed are different almond products. Compare the ingredients of the variety you’re considering.
- According to Duyvis, Unsalted Almonds contain almonds and sunflower oil.
- The pack may contain traces of peanuts and various nuts. For Almonds Original, the manufacturer lists wheat, peanuts and various nuts as possible allergens.
Albert Heijn
AH Unsalted Almonds 190 g may be worth considering if you’re looking for an unsalted variety that’s specifically labelled gluten-free and lactose-free.
- Albert Heijn’s product information states that it is gluten-free and lactose-free.
- The product contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other listed nuts. These characteristics apply to this variety, not to all nuts from the brand.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g is a specific unsalted almond variety.
- The retailer’s information lists 99% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The product information lists peanuts as a possible allergen; ‘unsalted’ is not, in itself, an allergen claim.
Lidl
The variety reviewed is called Unsalted Almonds, product number 172897.
- The product name makes it clear that this is an unsalted variety.
- The Lidl product page says ‘In-store only’. The product name alone is not enough to support an allergen claim.
ALDI
The Trader Joe’s Nut Mix reviewed is an ALDI product containing several types of nuts.
- The retailer’s information lists almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts in the unsalted mix.
- The mix is not nut-free and may not be suitable if you need to avoid any of the listed varieties.
PLUS
PLUS Unsalted Almonds 150 g is a specific unsalted almond variety.
- The retailer’s information lists 98% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The information lists peanuts and eight types of nuts as possible allergens. A vegan label does not guarantee that a product is suitable for someone with a food allergy.
Nut and chestnut snacks at Joybuy
The products below are almond, hazelnut and chestnut snacks. Check the allergen information for each specific variety.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels 160 g
An option if you’re specifically looking for an almond snack. The product name specifies almond kernels, and the pack contains 160 g.
Contains almonds; not suitable if almonds need to be avoided.
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Titiz Roasted Chestnuts 125 g
A choice if you’re looking for chestnuts rather than almonds or hazelnuts. The product name specifies roasted chestnuts, and the pack contains 125 g.
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g'woon Raw & Unsalted Almonds 200 g
An option if you’re specifically looking for raw, unsalted almonds. The product name specifies this variety and a pack size of 200 g.
Contains almonds; not suitable if almonds need to be avoided.
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Anatolia Badem Natural (Almonds) 500 g
An almond variety for anyone looking for almonds as a snack. The product name specifies 500 g.
Contains almonds; not suitable if almonds need to be avoided.
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Anatolia Roasted Hazelnuts 500 g
An option if you’re looking for hazelnuts rather than almonds. The product name specifies roasted hazelnuts, and the pack contains 500 g.
Contains hazelnuts; not suitable if hazelnuts need to be avoided.
Frequently asked questions
Are gluten-free nuts suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean a product is free from nuts: AH Unsalted Almonds contains almonds. Jeroen Bosch Hospital advises avoiding foods containing nuts or traces of nuts if your child has a nut allergy. Follow the advice given for your child’s specific treatment.
Is lactose-free the same as suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No. Lactose intolerance affects the digestion of milk sugar, whereas a cow’s milk protein allergy is a reaction to milk proteins. If you have a milk allergy, check the allergen information rather than relying only on a lactose-free label.
Can I always pack nuts for school or an after-school club?
Not without checking the rules at the specific setting first. Schools and childcare settings may have their own rules; for example, OBS De Venen outlines rules for its younger classes. This local policy doesn’t automatically apply to other schools or after-school clubs.
How can you give your child nuts after school while reducing the risk of choking?
Take your child’s age, the form of the nuts and the way they eat into account. The Voedingscentrum warns of the risk of choking on whole nuts and peanuts. Choose a form that suits your child and encourage them to eat slowly.
What allergen information is shown on prepacked products in the Netherlands?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products. Since 1 January 2026, new rules have also applied to how and when businesses warn about allergens that may accidentally get into food. Read the information on the pack of the product you’re planning to give your child.