Choose an organic cashew variety whose organic designation and certification details can be checked on the packaging. Then decide whether you want unroasted nuts or a roasted variety with oil, and choose a pack size to suit how much you use. Organic certification does not mean a product is suitable for everyone.
You’re looking for organic cashews to add to yoghurt or enjoy as a simple snack, and want to assess whether they’re unroasted or roasted, and whether they contain oil or salt. Product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS describes varieties with different preparation methods and added ingredients.
You’re buying snacks for several occasions and want to choose a pack size that matches how much you use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container.
If you sell food to consumers from a pharmacy, allergen information and business registration are important alongside your product choice. The NVWA outlines registration requirements for food businesses; these do not apply to someone buying snacks for personal use.
Start by checking the organic designation, then compare how the nuts are prepared and what has been added. Finally, choose a pack size that suits how much you use and the people who will be eating them.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiable organic status | Check the organic designation and certification details on the packaging. | If I’m buying organic, I want to be able to check the designation on the packaging before choosing; around 29% of consumers prioritise verifiable organic status. |
| Ingredients for breakfast | Read the ingredients and compare the preparation method, oil and salt in the specific variety. | For yoghurt or a simple snack, I want to know in advance whether the nuts are unroasted or roasted, and what has been added; around 29% of consumers prioritise these ingredients. |
| Pack size and storage | Choose a net weight that suits how much you use and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If you’re buying snacks for several occasions, you’ll want a quantity that’s practical to use and easy to store properly; around 24% of consumers prioritise a suitable pack size. |
| Suitability for those eating them | Check that cashews are listed and look for any warnings about other allergens. | If several people will be eating from the same supply, I want to check the allergen information before choosing a pack; around 18% of consumers prioritise suitability for those eating them. |
Organic certification does not replace allergen information. Cashews are specifically listed as an allergen, according to the NVWA.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack, even if it carries an organic designation.
The roasted, unsalted varieties described by Albert Heijn and PLUS contain sunflower oil.
As well as checking whether the nuts are unsalted, read how they have been prepared and check the ingredients list.
If you don’t use many nuts, a larger pack will stay open for longer. Any leftovers may not fit as well with your plans for keeping stock.
Choose a pack size that suits how much you use, and store any opened pack in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container.
Lidl describes Fairtrade certification for its separate Way To Go range. This is a different type of certification from organic production.
If both organic production and Fairtrade matter to you, check each designation separately.
Albert Heijn’s product information describes organic unroasted cashews in 150 g and 400 g packs, as well as a 200 g roasted, unsalted variety.
BIO+ product information describes 200 g packs of organic roasted cashews, available unsalted or salted.
Jumbo has published product information for 175 g packs of organic unroasted cashews.
Lidl has a product page titled ‘Organic cashews’. According to Lidl, its separate Way To Go range is Fairtrade-certified.
ALDI’s product information describes 250 g packs of TRADER JOE'S roasted, unsalted cashews.
Duyvis describes Cashews Original as an oven-roasted snack in a 125 g pack, with no added oil.
Not in every situation. According to the European Commission, the logo is compulsory for pre-packed food produced in the EU and sold as organic. For imported products that comply with EU rules on organic imports, the logo is optional. So don’t judge whether a product is organic solely by whether it carries the leaf logo.
Store nuts in a cool, dry place in a tightly sealed container; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping them somewhere cool if possible. Also follow the storage instructions and use-by or best-before information on the pack you choose. For its 400 g variety, Albert Heijn says to close the pack securely after use.
Cashews are among the nuts that the NVWA says must be specifically identified. For pre-packed products, allergen information must be clearly displayed on the label, and any allergens present must be distinguishable in the ingredients list. Different ways of providing information apply to unpackaged food, such as a shelf label or verbal information, alongside a visible notice telling customers they can ask for details.
Yes, if it sells food to consumers as a business. The NVWA requires food businesses that sell directly to consumers or provide them with food to register, including businesses selling online. This applies to business activities, not to buying snacks for personal use.
Not always. Skal Biocontrole describes an exemption for shops that sell only pre-packed organic products to consumers and do not carry out any other organic activities. The packaging and legally required labelling must meet the specified conditions. Importing organic products yourself from outside the EU is not covered by this exemption.
