Who are these choices relevant to?

Organic snack shoppers

You’re looking for certified organic cashews for New Year’s Eve and want to choose between a salted and an unsalted option. The European Commission links the EU organic logo to organic certification.

Snack and breakfast shoppers

You’d also like to use the nuts at breakfast or in other dishes, so you’re checking the processing method, added salt and any oil. AH describes its 150 g unroasted option as not fried in oil; other organic options contain sunflower oil.

Hosts catering for dietary needs

You’re buying for guests and need to take allergies into account. Check the allergen information on the exact pack; for young children, the warning about choking on nuts is also important.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check the organic label, then choose based on how the cashews are prepared, your taste preferences, the quantity and who’ll be sharing them.

What to consider What should you look for? Who is this important to?
Organic certification The European Commission states that the EU organic logo may only be used on products with recognised organic certification. Check the inspection code and country of origin too. If I choose organic, I want to be able to recognise the certification rather than relying on words such as ‘natural’. Around 31% of consumers prioritise a demonstrably organic origin.
Suitable for breakfast or other dishes too Read both the processing description and the ingredients. AH describes its 150 g unroasted option as not fried in oil; the 200 g AH option and 200 g BIO+ option contain sunflower oil. If I want to use the same cashews in breakfast or other dishes, I look for a preparation method and ingredients that suit those uses. Around 19% of consumers give versatile use top priority.
Flavour with drinks and salt Check whether salt has been added as an ingredient. PLUS lists 0.7 g of salt per 100 g for BIO+ salted cashews and 0.075 g per 100 g for the unsalted option. If I’m looking for a particular flavour to serve with drinks, I want to choose between salted and unsalted deliberately. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the flavour they want for a drinks occasion.
Pack size and storage The AH and PLUS options mentioned are packed in 150 g or 200 g sizes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a cool, dark and dry place. If I’m buying cashews to serve with drinks and use later, I want a quantity that suits my needs and to be able to store the rest properly. Around 13% of consumers prioritise choosing the right quantity.
Suitable for guests Check the allergen information on the exact pack. BIO+ warns that the product may contain peanuts; product information also warns about the risk of choking for young children. If I’m putting out a bowl for guests, I want to take allergies into account, as well as any young children who’ll be eating with us. Around 12% of consumers prioritise suitability for guests.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming organic means suitable for everyone

    Organic cashews still contain cashew. Some options also mention that other allergens may be present, and there is a choking warning for young children.

    Ask your guests about any relevant allergies and check the pack’s allergen information before serving the nuts.

  • Confusing unsalted with oil-free

    The 200 g unsalted AH option reviewed and the unsalted BIO+ option contain sunflower oil.

    Read the ingredients list and processing description if you want to avoid oil.

  • Assuming oven-roasted or natural means organic

    A preparation method or flavour description doesn’t prove organic certification. Duyvis describes its Cashews Original as oven-roasted without added oil, but this does not confirm organic certification.

    Use the organic label and, where applicable, the accompanying certification information as your selection criteria.

  • Assuming a product page means you can still order it

    For the documented 150 g and 175 g organic options, Jumbo states that they are no longer available in its online range. AH says its 150 g unroasted option is only available in store.

    Check how you can buy the exact pack before planning your shopping.

    You may need to visit a shop for the AH option; you’ll need another way to buy the Jumbo options mentioned.

Relevant brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH’s organic cashew options range from unroasted and unsalted to fried and unsalted.

  • According to AH, the 150 g option is unroasted and not fried in oil; the 200 g option is fried and unsalted.
  • AH says the 150 g option is only available in store. Check how to buy each option and read the ingredients.

PLUS

BIO+ offers 200 g packs of organic cashews in both unsalted and salted varieties.

  • The unsalted option lists 99% cashews of organic origin and organic sunflower oil; the salted option also contains salt.
  • This information applies to the BIO+ products mentioned and does not cover the entire PLUS range.

Jumbo

Jumbo has product information for organic unroasted cashews in 150 g and 175 g packs.

  • The product information lists an organic inspection code.
  • Jumbo says these options are no longer available in its online range.

Lidl

Lidl has a product page called Organic cashews.

  • The product name identifies the range as organic cashews.
  • Check the certification information, ingredients and processing method on the pack you buy.

Duyvis

Duyvis Cashews Original is an example of a roasted snack to serve with drinks.

  • According to Duyvis, the cashews are oven-roasted without added oil.
  • This preparation method is not proof of organic certification; the description applies to the product range mentioned.

ALDI

ALDI lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted cashews in a 250 g pack.

  • The product information mentioned describes roasted, unsalted cashews.
  • Being unsalted and roasted does not prove organic certification; check the exact pack if organic is a requirement.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I identify organic cashews?

Check for the EU organic logo, together with the inspection code and country-of-origin information. According to the European Commission, the logo is for products with recognised certification. Organic products must also meet requirements for the proportion of organic ingredients and the other ingredients used.

Do allergens have to be clearly labelled on packaging in the Netherlands?

Yes. The NVWA requires allergens to be clearly indicated. For prepacked products, they must appear in the ingredients list; if there is no ingredients list, separate rules apply to the ‘contains’ statement. There is an exception when the allergen is already clear from the product name.

Can I serve organic cashews to all my guests?

Not without taking allergies and your guests’ ages into account. The products mentioned contain cashew, BIO+ warns that peanuts may be present, and product information warns about the risk of choking for young children. Always check the label on the pack you’re serving.

How should I store an opened pack of cashews?

Store the nuts in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place. Follow the storage advice on the pack too; the general advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre is not a product-specific guarantee of how long every opened pack will keep.

What should I do if my cashews are covered by a safety warning?

Follow the warning for the exact product and pack, and don’t eat any product named in it. Contact the seller; according to ACM ConsuWijzer, you can ask for a refund if they don’t offer a suitable solution.