Who is this buying guide for?

Portion-conscious organic snackers

You want to eat organic cashew nuts while being able to work out how much energy your chosen portion provides. A clear nutrition table and a weighed portion can help; organic does not mean low in calories.

Shoppers looking for certification

You want to check the organic designation on the product rather than relying solely on words such as ‘pure’ or ‘unroasted’. For example, Jumbo lists NL-BIO-01 on its organic cashew nuts.

Snackers who pay attention to salt or preparation

You keep an eye on salt and choose between unroasted or roasted nuts according to your preference. The Dutch Nutrition Centre includes unsalted nuts in its Wheel of Five; unsalted varieties can be either unroasted or roasted.

What should you look for when buying?

First check the organic designation, then compare the energy per 100 g. Next, work out the energy in your own portion and assess salt and preparation as separate product features.

What to consider What to look for when buying Who is this most relevant to?
Energy per portion Compare the kcal per 100 g for the exact variety, then work out the energy in your weighed portion. If I want to know how much energy my snack portion provides, I compare the same weight basis and weigh my portion. Around 36% of consumers say energy per portion is their top buying priority.
Organic designation Check the product’s organic designation and the EU organic logo; assess its nutritional value separately. When I want to make sure I’m buying organic, I check the designations on the packaging rather than relying solely on the product name. Around 29% of consumers say confidence in organic certification is their top priority.
Salt and preparation Read the salt content and preparation details; don’t assume that ‘unsalted’ or ‘no added oil’ means fewer calories. If I’m mainly looking for an unsalted or specifically roasted variety, I want to be able to assess the salt and preparation method separately. Around 21% of consumers prioritise salt or preparation.
Pack size Choose a pack size that suits how you expect to use the nuts, and follow the storage instructions after opening. When I want to avoid leaving a pack unused, I consider its size and how I can store the nuts. Around 14% of consumers say a suitable pack size is their top priority.

Common buying mistakes

  • Confusing organic, unsalted or unroasted with low in calories

    These features describe different aspects of a product. AH Organic Unroasted Cashew Nuts lists 585 kcal per 100 g. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g to carry a ‘low energy’ claim.

    Check the organic designation and nutrition table separately. A smaller portion does not change the requirement for a ‘low energy’ claim.

  • Assuming the same calorie figure applies to every pack

    The Dutch Nutrition Centre gives 154 kcal per 25 g portion as a general reference for unsalted cashew nuts. AH lists 585 kcal per 100 g for its specific organic unroasted variety, which works out to 146.25 kcal per 25 g. A general reference and the label value for a specific variety are not the same thing.

    When comparing products, use the nutrition information for the exact variety and compare like for like by weight.

  • Taking ‘no added oil’ as proof of fewer calories

    Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil. This is the manufacturer’s claim about how the product is prepared; it does not prove that it contains fewer calories than organic or unroasted varieties.

    Compare the declared energy per 100 g, and use the preparation details to identify the variety you want.

  • Buying more than you can use in time

    A larger pack may not be practical if the nuts deteriorate before you finish them. The Dutch Nutrition Centre lists rancidity, toughness and mould as signs that cashew nuts have spoiled.

    Choose a pack size that suits your needs and follow the storage instructions on the product.

    If the quality deteriorates before you finish the pack, some of it may go unused.

Relevant brands and varieties

Albert Heijn

AH Organic Unroasted Cashew Nuts is a specific organic, unroasted variety with clear product details.

  • Albert Heijn lists a pack size of 150 g, the EU organic logo, control code IT-BIO-009, 585 kcal and 0 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The declared energy value applies to this specific product and is above the European threshold for a ‘low energy’ claim.

Jumbo

Jumbo Organic Unroasted Cashew Nuts 175 g is an option if you’re looking for organic, unroasted nuts.

  • Jumbo lists NL-BIO-01 and EU/non-EU agriculture for this organic variety.
  • Check the nutrition information on the exact pack separately; organic designations do not tell you the energy content.

PLUS

The variety described is BIO+ unsalted cashew nuts, sold at PLUS in a 200 g bag.

  • The product description identifies the unsalted variety and pack size.
  • The name BIO+ alone does not prove organic certification; check the product designations on the packaging.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands describes a product under the title ‘Organic cashew nuts’.

  • The product title points to an organic option.
  • Before choosing, compare the nutrition information, preparation method and pack details on the exact product.

ALDI

The Trader Joe’s variety described is roasted and unsalted, in a 250 g pack.

  • The product specification makes the preparation method and pack size clear.
  • Assess the organic designation and energy content separately; roasted and unsalted do not prove a calorie advantage.

Duyvis

Duyvis Cashews Original is a savoury snack variety that the manufacturer describes as oven-roasted without added oil.

  • The manufacturer describes the preparation method as oven-roasted without added oil.
  • This claim about preparation does not show that the product is organic or low in calories; check the product designation and nutrition information separately.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a small portion of cashew nuts make the product low in calories?

No. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to carry a ‘low energy’ claim; a smaller portion does not change the basis for this assessment. AH Organic Unroasted Cashew Nuts lists 585 kcal per 100 g.

How do I work out the energy in my portion?

Multiply the kcal per 100 g on the label by the weight of your portion in grams, then divide by 100. For the AH variety, which contains 585 kcal per 100 g, 25 g works out to 146.25 kcal; this is a calculation based on the declared value.

How can I identify a pack of organic cashew nuts?

Check the product’s organic designation and the EU organic logo. Skal Biocontrole explains that businesses may only sell products as organic if they have an organic certificate. For example, AH lists the EU organic logo and IT-BIO-009 on its organic cashew nuts; assess these designations separately from the nutrition information.

Do ‘unsalted’ or ‘no added oil’ mean cashew nuts contain fewer calories?

No. These terms describe salt or preparation, not energy content. Compare the nutrition information per 100 g for the exact varieties; a manufacturer’s claim about the preparation method, such as Duyvis’s claim for Cashews Original, is not a calorie comparison.

How should I store opened unsalted cashew nuts?

Follow the instructions on the packaging. For opened unsalted cashew nuts, the Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends 6 months in a kitchen cupboard and 1 year in the freezer; rancidity, toughness and mould are signs that the nuts have spoiled. The AH pack advises storing them in a cool, dark and dry place.