Budget-conscious breakfast shoppers
You want to choose organic nuts without looking only at the price on the shelf. Compare the net weight and price per kilogram, but also consider how much you’ll spend upfront.
Who are these options for?
Fans of simple breakfast toppings
For yoghurt or cereal, you’ll want to know which nuts are included and whether they’re unroasted or roasted. Product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS shows that ingredients and processing vary between products.
Shoppers looking for organic assurance
You want to be able to verify an organic claim rather than rely on words such as ‘natural’ or ‘pure’. Look for the organic product designation and any available information about the control body and origin.
What should you look for when buying?
First compare the organic certification and ingredients. Then consider which pack size and quantity suit your needs and budget.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per purchase and quantity | Compare the net weight, pack price and price per kilogram. Compare nuts of the same type and processed in the same way. | If I want to stay within my food budget, I look at both the cost at the till and how much I get for it. Around 31% of consumers put the cost of a purchase first. |
| Verifiable organic certification | Check the organic designation and control code on the packaging. The European Commission explains the requirements for the EU organic logo, including exceptions for certain imported and unpackaged products. | I want to be able to check that the organic claim applies to the product I choose, rather than relying on a natural-looking image. Around 25% of consumers prioritise verifiable organic status. |
| Ingredients for your breakfast | Read the ingredients and the percentages of each type of nut. Also check whether the nuts are unroasted, roasted or unsalted, and whether oil has been added. | For my yoghurt or cereal, I want to know which nuts and added ingredients I’m choosing. Around 19% of consumers give most weight to breakfast ingredients. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a net weight that suits how much you use, and check the storage instructions and best-before date. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing nuts in a tightly sealed container in a dry place. | I want to choose a pack I can store as instructed and use in time. Around 13% of consumers put managing their supplies first. |
| Allergens and use by children | Read the allergen information and any cross-contamination warnings on the current packaging. For young children, also look out for warnings about choking on whole nuts. | If someone has a nut allergy or young children will be eating the nuts, I want to check the product warnings carefully. Around 12% of consumers name personal safety as their top priority. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming a low pack price means a low price per kilogram
A smaller pack may cost less at the time of purchase, but it could also be more expensive per kilogram. The organic products reviewed come in different pack sizes.
Compare the current pack price and price per kilogram, and check that the quantity suits how much you use.
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Assuming organic means unroasted and free from added ingredients
Organic status alone doesn’t tell you how nuts have been processed or what ingredients have been added. For example, Albert Heijn describes its organic cashew nuts as roasted and lists sunflower oil.
Check how the nuts have been processed and read the ingredients as well as the organic designation.
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Relying on the organic certification to check for allergens
An organic designation doesn’t replace allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must be shown on the label of prepacked foods.
Read the allergens and any warnings on the pack you’re buying.
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Choosing a large pack without considering storage
Nuts need to be stored appropriately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping them in a tightly sealed container in a dry place.
Choose a quantity that suits how much you use and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The organic products reviewed offer a choice between roasted, unsalted cashew nuts and an unroasted nut mix.
- Albert Heijn displays the EU organic logo, NL-BIO-01 and Skal 001920 for both products.
- The cashew nuts contain sunflower oil; the mix contains Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, almonds and walnuts. This applies to these products and not necessarily to the entire range.
PLUS
The Biologisch PLUS Notenmix reviewed is an unroasted, unsalted mix in a 150 g pack.
- PLUS product information lists almonds, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts and walnuts, including 40% almonds and 35% hazelnuts.
- The product designation and ingredients apply to this mix; check the current packaging before you buy.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands describes its organic cashew nuts as unroasted and sold in a 175 g pack.
- The product description makes the stated type of nut and how it has been processed clear.
- The page says the product is available in store; this doesn’t guarantee that it will be in stock at a specific shop.
Jumbo
Jumbo product information describes a 150 g organic, unroasted nut mix containing five types of nuts.
- The listed ingredients provide an example of an unroasted mix in the product range.
- Jumbo says this particular product is no longer part of its online range; this doesn’t say anything about other products or in-store stock.
Nut products at Joybuy
These Joybuy options range from a raw, unsalted nut mix to a nut bar. The bar is a different format from loose nuts for yoghurt or cereal.
Image not available.
g’woon Nut Mix Raw & Unsalted, 200 g
A raw, unsalted mix for anyone who wants to add a variety of nuts to breakfast dishes.
The ingredients list states 30% hazelnuts, 30% walnuts, 20% almonds and 20% cashew nuts.
Contains nuts and may contain traces of peanuts.
Image not available.
Zonnatura Organic Nut Mix Bar, 75 g
A nut bar for anyone looking for a snack in bar form rather than loose nuts as a breakfast topping.
The ingredients information lists 38% peanuts and 16% almonds, along with pumpkin seeds, raisins and agave syrup.
Contains peanuts and almonds; the information states that it may contain traces of other nuts and sesame seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Does every organic pack have to display a European organic logo?
No, not in every case. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo is compulsory on prepacked foods produced in the EU and sold there as organic. The logo may be optional for certain imported products and unpackaged organic products, among others.
Does unsalted mean that no oil has been added?
No. Albert Heijn describes its organic unsalted cashew nuts as roasted and lists organic sunflower oil as an ingredient. Check the ingredients list if you’re looking for nuts with no added oil.
How should you store an unroasted nut mix?
Follow the instructions on the packaging. Albert Heijn advises storing its unroasted mix in a cool, dark, dry place and sealing the pack tightly after use. PLUS also advises storing its mix in a cool, dry, dark place.
Can you rely on organic certification if you have a nut allergy?
No. Allergen information needs to be checked separately. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must appear on the label of prepacked foods; also read any warnings on the packaging.
Can you eat a mix containing Brazil nuts every day without limit?
Don’t assume that the proportion of Brazil nuts means there’s an unlimited or guaranteed safe amount to eat every day. EFSA identifies regular consumers of Brazil nuts as a group that may exceed the upper limit for selenium. So don’t use the mix as a selenium supplement.
Are whole nuts automatically suitable for young children?
No. The Albert Heijn packs reviewed warn that young children may choke on whole nuts. Consider the form in which you serve nuts separately from their organic designation and price.