Snack shoppers with a specific allergy
You want to check whether the nut or peanut you avoid appears in the ingredients or in a warning. A gluten-free or lactose-free claim on its own does not tell you whether a product is suitable for your allergy.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers avoiding gluten or lactose
You’re looking for a nut snack with information about the exact variant, and you also want to check coatings and flavourings. Lactose intolerance and milk allergy require different checks.
Grocery planners who need delivery
You want to add a suitable snack to your online grocery shop and check in advance whether the retailer offers grocery delivery. An online product listing does not automatically mean that a grocery delivery service is available.
What should you look for when choosing?
Plain almonds with dietary claims
When to choose: if you avoid gluten or lactose, and almonds and the warnings shown are not a concern for you.
What to consider: AH Unsalted Almonds 190 g are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, but contain almonds and may contain other nuts and peanuts.
Plain almonds with a simple ingredient list
When to choose: if you want to take the ingredients list into account and the specific nuts listed are not a reason to rule them out.
What to consider: Jumbo lists almonds and sunflower oil; PLUS lists almonds as the only ingredient. Both products carry a warning about peanuts.
Party nuts with a coating or flavour mix
When to choose: if you’re looking for a seasoned snack and the ingredients in the exact flavour variant suit your diet.
What to consider: Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail 275 g lists peanuts, starch containing wheat and lactose from milk, according to the Albert Heijn product page.
An alternative outside the nuts category
When to choose: if the allergen you avoid appears in the ingredients or relevant warnings for a nut product.
What to consider: check an alternative outside the nuts category for its own ingredients and warnings too; the category alone tells you nothing about whether it is suitable.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergen | Check whether the nut or peanut you need to avoid is listed in the ingredients or warnings. For the almond variants reviewed, AH, Jumbo and PLUS also warn about other nuts and/or peanuts. | If I need to avoid a specific nut or peanuts, I check both the ingredients and the warnings. Around 36% of consumers put avoiding a specific allergen first. |
| Gluten-free | Look for a claim for the exact variant and check the coating and flavour mix too. AH labels the plain almonds reviewed as gluten-free; Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail lists wheat. | When I avoid gluten, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘nuts’ alone. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a gluten-free option they can verify. |
| Lactose-free | Check the lactose claim and consider the ingredients in the flavour mix. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between lactose intolerance and milk allergy. | If I avoid lactose, I check that claim separately; if I have a milk allergy, I also check the allergen information. Around 21% of consumers make avoiding lactose their main priority. |
| Ordering online | Before completing your purchase, check the mandatory product information and whether the retailer actually offers grocery delivery. The European Commission explains the information requirements for distance selling; Lidl Netherlands confirms that it does not offer grocery delivery. | If I want my snack delivered with my groceries, I also check the delivery options and ordering terms. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming gluten-free or lactose-free means free from all allergens
AH Unsalted Almonds carry both claims, but contain almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts. These dietary claims therefore do not automatically tell you whether the product is suitable for a specific allergy.
Match each free-from claim to the ingredient you avoid, and check the ingredients and warnings as well.
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Assuming all party nuts contain nothing but nuts
Alongside peanuts, Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail 275 g also lists starch containing wheat and lactose from milk.
Check the full ingredients list for the exact flavour variant, including its coating and flavour mix.
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Mistaking an online product catalogue for a grocery delivery service
Lidl Netherlands confirms that it does not sell groceries through its website or app and does not offer grocery delivery. You may therefore need to visit a store in person.
Check the actual ordering and delivery options before basing your grocery plans on a retailer.
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Choosing the snack without checking the delivery order
A snack may suit your diet, while the order terms may not work for a single-item purchase.
Check that the product suits your diet first, then consider your full grocery basket and the delivery service’s terms. Don’t choose an unsuitable alternative just to meet an order requirement.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
Nut snacks and party nuts made using a range of methods and coatings.
- The product information directs shoppers to the packaging and product checker for allergen details.
- The AH product page lists peanuts, wheat and lactose from milk for the cocktail variant. Duyvis itself warns that traces of peanuts and/or nuts may be present; this is not a free-from product range.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand nuts with product information for online grocery shopping.
- AH Unsalted Almonds 190 g are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free.
- The variant contains almonds and may contain peanuts and other nuts. This information does not automatically apply to other AH nut products.
Jumbo
Own-brand nuts with online ingredient information.
- Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g list 99% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The product information states ‘may contain peanuts’, so the ingredients list does not prove that this is a peanut-free option.
Lidl
Alesto nuts and snacks, with information about the range and where to shop.
- Lidl Netherlands presents Alesto as a range of nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.
- Lidl Netherlands confirms that it does not offer grocery delivery. A product range listing does not prove that a specific variant is suitable for a free-from diet.
ALDI
A listed shop option for Trader Joe’s almonds in roasted and salted or smoke-flavoured varieties.
- The product information describes 200 g almonds in these flavour varieties.
- The product description alone does not state that this variant is gluten-free, lactose-free or allergen-free.
PLUS
Own-brand nuts with online product information and delivery or collection options.
- PLUS Unroasted and Unsalted Almonds 200 g list almonds as the ingredient.
- The product information warns about peanuts and other nuts. The recipe does not make this a confirmed peanut-free or nut-free option.
Nuts at Joybuy
These product options can help you assess the nut types mentioned and the product information available. Always check the details for the exact variant before use.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels 160 g
Suitable only if you can eat almonds; check the information on the pack you receive to make sure it suits your diet.
The product information lists 100% almond kernels. Contains almonds.
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Be&Cheery paper-shell walnuts 128 g
This product is suitable only if walnuts are safe for you; check the full label for information about other allergens.
The product information lists walnuts as an ingredient and allergen.
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Mooijer Whole Boiled Peanuts 500 g
Suitable only if peanuts are safe for you; read the pack for the full ingredients and allergen information.
The product title identifies the product as boiled peanuts.
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g'woon unsalted peanuts 250 g
This product is suitable only if peanuts are safe for you; also note the stated possibility of cashew nuts being present.
The product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil. May contain cashew nuts.
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Titiz roasted chestnuts 125 g
An option to consider if you’re looking for a chestnut-based snack; check the information on the exact pack.
The product description lists 100% chestnuts and describes the product as ‘vegan’ and ‘gluten-free’.
Frequently asked questions
Does lactose-free mean a snack is suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No, the ‘lactose-free’ claim alone does not tell you that. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, whereas with a milk allergy you need to check milk proteins and allergen information.
Does allergen information need to be available before you pay for groceries online?
Yes. According to the European Commission, when prepacked food is sold at a distance, the mandatory food information must be available before you complete the purchase, except for the best-before or use-by date. All mandatory information must be available when the food is delivered.
What does ‘may contain’ mean on a nut snack?
It is a warning about possible cross-contamination, not an ingredient listing. According to the NVWA, new Dutch rules for allergen warnings have applied since 1 January 2026; the NVWA says safe stock produced earlier can still be sold.
Can you use all the supermarket retailers mentioned for grocery delivery?
No. Albert Heijn offers online grocery delivery, and the PLUS product page reviewed lists delivery or collection. Lidl Netherlands confirms that it does not offer grocery delivery.
What should you do if the packaging differs from the online allergen information?
Don’t use the product based on what you previously assumed from the online information. Read the pack you receive and ask the retailer for clarification before using it as part of your diet. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergy information can change.
How should you store the plain almonds reviewed after delivery?
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For AH Unsalted Almonds, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a cool, dark and dry place and resealing the pack securely after use; PLUS advises storing its almonds in a dry, dark place. Check the label again when you reorder.