Who is this guide for?

Gluten-free film-night snackers

You’re looking for nuts to enjoy during a film and need to avoid gluten. Check the dietary claim on the exact variant you’re buying, and remember that gluten-free doesn’t mean a product is also free from nuts or peanuts.

Snackers avoiding lactose

You’re looking for a nut snack that suits a lactose-restricted or lactose-free diet. Distinguish between lactose intolerance and a milk allergy: a lactose-free claim doesn’t mean a product contains no milk proteins.

Shopping for someone with an allergy

You’re buying snacks for someone who needs to avoid certain nuts, peanuts or another allergen. The ingredients and warnings on the packaging matter more than a general impression of a product.

What should you look for when buying?

First, check which ingredient or allergen needs to be avoided. Then review the ingredients, warnings and dietary claim for the exact variant you want to buy.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Specific allergens Check which nuts and other allergens are listed as ingredients, and look for warnings about possible presence on the exact packaging. If I’m buying for someone with a nut or peanut allergy, I want to know whether that specific allergen is present. Around 36% of consumers put avoiding a specific allergen first.
Gluten Check the gluten-free claim as well as the ingredients for the flavour and pack you’ve chosen. If I need to avoid gluten, I look for a clear claim on the variant I’m bringing to film night. Around 29% of consumers give avoiding gluten top priority.
Lactose or milk Work out whether you need to avoid lactose or milk proteins, then check the relevant ingredients and allergen information. If I want to limit or avoid lactose and can eat nuts, I want to be able to check that the product is suitably labelled for lactose. Around 21% of consumers start by prioritising lactose avoidance.
Pack size and storage Choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it and follow the storage instructions. Check whether the bag is resealable if you expect to have some left over. Once everyone’s dietary requirements are covered, I want something I can share and store without ending up with too much left over. Around 14% of consumers prioritise convenience when sharing and storing snacks.

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming a free-from claim means free from all allergens

    A gluten-free or lactose-free claim only applies to that specific ingredient. AH Unsalted Mixed Nuts is labelled as both, but contains several types of nuts and may contain peanuts.

    Check every allergen that matters to you or someone you’re sharing with separately, using the ingredients list and allergen information.

  • Assuming unsalted or a short ingredients list means allergy-safe

    Duyvis Unsalted Almonds contains almonds and sunflower oil, but carries a warning that it may contain peanuts and other nuts. Jumbo Unsalted Mixed Nuts contains peanuts as well as several tree nuts.

    As well as checking the salt content and recipe, review the allergen information for each specific allergen.

  • Assuming dietary claims apply to a different flavour or pack

    Nut products can have different ingredients. The Duyvis Borrelnootjes Provencale 1 kg variant we looked at contains wheat; that doesn’t tell you what’s in another Duyvis variant.

    Check the full product name, flavour and ingredients on the pack you want to buy.

  • Choosing a large sharing pack before checking that everyone can eat it

    The 500 g mixed nut packs we looked at contain several types of nuts and may contain peanuts. A pack that doesn’t suit the group’s dietary requirements may end up going unused.

    Check the allergens for everyone who’ll be sharing first, then choose a pack size that suits your plans.

Brands to consider

Duyvis

The range we looked at includes both simple and coated savoury snacks.

  • According to Duyvis, Unsalted Almonds is a 125 g variant made with almonds and sunflower oil.
  • This pack of almonds warns that it may contain peanuts and other nuts. The separately reviewed 1 kg Provencale variant contains wheat.

Albert Heijn

AH Unsalted Mixed Nuts 500 g is an example of a product with information about its ingredients and dietary properties.

  • Albert Heijn labels this variant gluten-free and lactose-free.
  • The mix contains almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts and walnuts, and may contain peanuts. So these dietary claims don’t mean the product is free from nuts or peanuts.

Jumbo

Jumbo Unsalted Mixed Nuts 200 g has product-specific information about its ingredients and allergens.

  • The product information lists several tree nuts and peanuts as ingredients.
  • Unsalted says nothing about whether the product is free from peanuts or tree nuts.

Lidl

The Alesto Pecans we looked at are unsalted pecans in a resealable pack.

  • Lidl lists the pack size as 200 g and says the bag is resealable.
  • A product containing pecans is not a nut-free option; the packaging information alone doesn’t prove any other free-from properties.

ALDI

The Trader Joe’s Cashews we looked at are roasted and unsalted.

  • ALDI lists cashews and a pack size of 250 g.
  • This product information doesn’t confirm that the product is gluten-free or lactose-free, or that it’s free from other allergens.

PLUS

According to the ingredients list, PLUS Unroasted Unsalted Mixed Nuts 500 g contains walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.

  • PLUS lists these four types of nuts in the ingredients.
  • The allergen information warns that the product may contain peanuts and other nuts; a short ingredients list doesn’t guarantee there’s no cross-contamination.

Joybuy products for a film night

These products are snack options for a film night, including peanuts, chestnuts and nuts. Product information varies by variant, so always check that the ingredients and any warnings are suitable for everyone sharing.

g’woon unsalted peanuts 250 g

g’woon Unsalted Peanuts 250 g

An unsalted peanut snack, if peanuts are suitable for everyone sharing. The product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil; the product contains peanuts and may contain cashews.

View product
Titiz roasted chestnuts 125 g

Titiz Roasted Chestnuts 125 g

A ready-to-eat chestnut snack, if chestnuts suit the group’s dietary requirements. The product description lists 125 g of peeled, baked chestnuts and says they’re gluten-free; check the current packaging before you buy.

View product
Kanjers Fresh Class Nuts House Mix Excellent 190 g

Kanjers Fresh Class Nuts House Mix Excellent 190 g

A mixed nut snack to share, with any leftovers to keep for later. The product description lists a 190 g resealable pack; check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

View product
g’woon roasted unsalted cashews 200 g

g’woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted 200 g

A roasted, unsalted snack, if cashews are suitable for everyone sharing. The product information lists cashews as an ingredient; check the full allergen information if anyone needs to avoid certain nuts.

View product
g’woon unroasted mixed nuts 500 g

g’woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts 500 g

An unroasted mixed nut snack for anyone looking for a larger pack and able to eat all the nuts listed. The product information lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews, and warns that it may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.

View product

Frequently asked questions

Can you eat peanuts if you need to avoid tree nuts?

Peanuts are legumes, which are different from tree nuts. That doesn’t automatically mean peanuts are suitable for everyone with a tree nut allergy; check which allergens the person needs to avoid and review the full product information. Jumbo Unsalted Mixed Nuts lists both peanuts and several tree nuts.

Is lactose-free the same as suitable for someone with a milk allergy?

No, lactose-free doesn’t automatically mean suitable for someone with a milk allergy. Lactose is milk sugar, whereas a milk allergy is an immune reaction to milk proteins. HagaZiekenhuis says a product can be lactose-free and still contain cow’s milk protein. If you have a milk allergy, check the relevant ingredients and allergen information.

Do you always need to choose completely lactose-free foods if you’re lactose intolerant?

Not necessarily: according to Voedingscentrum, a lactose-restricted diet is usually enough. What works for one person may not work for another; Voedingscentrum suggests a dietitian may be able to help you find a suitable approach. This is separate from assessing a milk allergy.

How should you store a bag of nuts after a film night?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For the 500 g mixed nuts we looked at, PLUS recommends storing them in a cool, dry place away from light; Lidl describes the 200 g pecans we looked at as coming in a resealable bag. Also check the best-before date and any other instructions on your pack.

What allergen information do sellers in the Netherlands have to provide?

According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, food businesses must tell consumers about allergens present in their products. From 1 January 2026, new rules apply to warnings about the unintentional presence of allergens due to cross-contamination in prepacked products; the NVWA monitors compliance with these rules.

What should you do if online product information differs from the packaging?

Check the current packaging before using the product. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and dietary or allergy information can change. If you’re unsure about the product information, contact the retailer.