First, identify the ingredient or allergen you need to avoid: a gluten-free or vegan label doesn’t mean a product is free from nuts, peanuts or milk. If you avoid milk, whether you have lactose intolerance, a cow’s milk allergy or a vegan preference affects what you need to check. Before taking a snack with you, read the information on the packaging of that exact variant. Convenient features, such as a resealable bag, say nothing about whether it’s suitable for your allergies.
Avoid the allergen that’s relevant to you. Peanuts are legumes, a different group from tree nuts, as Stichting Voedselallergie explains. A gluten-free or vegan label doesn’t mean a product is free from your allergen.
Check the information for the specific variant. The Dutch Coeliac Association highlights the Crossed Grain trademark or a gluten-free statement as things to look for when reading labels. Also check for any other allergens that matter to you.
Lactose intolerance, cow’s milk allergy and a vegan preference are different considerations when choosing a product. The Voedingscentrum distinguishes between lactose and milk proteins; a vegan label does not prove that a product is suitable for someone with a cow’s milk allergy.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should give this greater priority? |
|---|---|---|
| Nut or peanut allergen | Check the exact packaging for the types of nuts listed, peanuts and allergen information. | If I need to avoid a particular nut or peanuts, I check this before considering flavour or convenience. Around 36% of consumers put avoiding a nut or peanut allergen first. |
| Choosing gluten-free | Look for a gluten-free statement or Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging, and check for any other relevant allergens. | If you avoid gluten, you’ll want to know whether that specific variant meets your needs. Around 29% of consumers say eating gluten-free is their main criterion when choosing. |
| Avoiding milk or animal-derived ingredients | Decide whether you need to avoid lactose, milk proteins or animal-derived ingredients because of a vegan preference, then check the relevant product information. | If I avoid milk or animal-derived ingredients, I look at my specific reason rather than treating labels as interchangeable. Around 21% of consumers make this their main priority. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Check the pack size, whether the packaging is resealable and the storage advice for that variant. | If you mainly want a snack that’s practical to take with you or store, choose packaging that suits your needs. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this convenience, once the product meets their dietary needs. |
A gluten-free statement relates to gluten and says nothing in itself about nuts, peanuts or milk. Nuts may be the very ingredient you need to avoid.
First work out which ingredient or allergen is relevant to you, then check the exact variant.
Lactose is milk sugar; milk proteins are relevant to a cow’s milk allergy. A vegan preference is a separate consideration when choosing.
Use a vegan label to check whether a product meets that dietary preference, but if you have an allergy, check the relevant allergen information too.
Duyvis describes Borrelnootjes Cocktail as peanuts with a crunchy coating and states that it contains ‘no artificial colourings’. This doesn’t mean the product is free from peanuts; Duyvis also warns that it may contain traces of peanuts and/or nuts.
Base your choice on the ingredients and allergen information for that particular variant, not on a different product claim.
Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergy information can change. That’s why the packaging of the product you actually buy matters.
Read it before eating the snack or offering it to others.
If the product isn’t suitable, you may need to find a different snack for your picnic.
Worth considering for coated savoury nuts and peanut snacks.
AH Notenmix ongezouten is a specific variant to assess against your own dietary needs.
Jumbo Noten Mix Ongezouten 200 g is an unsalted nut mix in this selection.
The Alesto range includes nuts, dried fruit and party snacks; each product type needs to be assessed separately.
The 200 g Trader Joe’s Notenmix ongebrand is worth considering if you want to check the types of nuts listed.
PLUS Notenmix ongebrand ongezouten 200 g is a specific option if you’re looking for an unroasted, unsalted mix.
This selection focuses on a ready-to-eat chestnut snack for when you’re out and about. Check the packaging against your personal dietary needs.
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The product description says the chestnuts are ready to eat and suitable for taking with you.
It lists 100% chestnuts and a 125 g pack, and describes the variant as gluten-free and vegan. Check the packaging of the product you buy for information relevant to your dietary needs.
No. Stichting Voedselallergie describes peanuts as legumes and tree nuts as a separate group. Check which specific allergens you need to avoid; don’t assume that peanuts are a suitable substitute for tree nuts, or vice versa.
No, a lactose-free claim doesn’t mean that. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while a cow’s milk allergy involves milk proteins. If you have a cow’s milk allergy, check the relevant allergen information rather than relying on a lactose-free label alone.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the variant you choose. PLUS advises storing the nut mix mentioned in a cool, dry place away from light; ALDI says its 200 g Trader Joe’s unroasted nut mix comes in a resealable pack. The Voedingscentrum explains that ‘keep cool’ doesn’t automatically mean a product needs to go in the fridge.
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) says allergens must be clearly and correctly stated on the label. This labelling requirement doesn’t mean a product is suitable for your specific allergy; check the information for the variant you buy.
Yes. According to the NVWA, new rules on warnings about allergens that may be unintentionally present have applied since 1 January 2026. From 2026, the NVWA will monitor businesses’ compliance; check the warnings on the product packaging.
