Who is this breakfast advice for?

Breakfast-makers looking to choose organic

You want to add nuts to yoghurt or another breakfast dish, and are looking for a recognised certification and an ingredients list that suits your needs.

Hosts serving breakfast to a group

You’re buying for several people and want to check the types of nuts, allergen information and warnings for young children.

Shoppers looking to avoid leftovers

You want a pack size that suits breakfast and how you’ll use the rest, with storage instructions you can follow.

What should you look for in organic nuts?

First, check the organic label, then choose a mix that suits your breakfast. Also check the warnings on the pack and choose an amount you can store properly.

What to consider What should you check? Who should consider this?
Organic labelling Look for the EU organic logo, the control code and the indication of agricultural origin. Also check the ingredients on the specific pack. If you want to choose organic, you’ll want to be able to recognise the label on the product. Around 31% of consumers put verifiable organic certification first.
Ingredients Check which types of nuts and any other ingredients are included. A mix has a set combination; cashews with sunflower oil are not made up of nuts alone. If you want to choose the nuts for your breakfast yourself, check the types and any added ingredients. Around 31% of consumers put the ingredients first.
Guests and allergens Read both the ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. Also take any warnings for young children into account when deciding how to serve the nuts. If you’re making breakfast for guests, you’ll want to know which nuts and warnings are listed on the pack. Around 19% of consumers put the needs of guests and young children first.
Pack size and storage Check the net weight and storage instructions. Keep nuts sealed and dry, and follow the guidance on the pack too. If you want to use any leftover nuts after breakfast, choose a pack size that you can store properly. Around 19% of consumers focus mainly on pack size and leftovers.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Treating ‘natural’, ‘unroasted’ and ‘organic’ as if they mean the same thing

    These terms don’t mean the same thing. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo can only be used for products certified as organic by an approved control authority or control body.

    Check the organic labelling on the pack, then look separately at the ingredients and how the product you’ve chosen has been prepared.

  • Assuming a pack containing one type of nut is automatically free from other allergens

    The Jumbo walnuts reviewed here warn that other allergens may be present. So even a product with just one ingredient doesn’t automatically answer questions about possible cross-contact.

    Read the ingredients and precautionary warnings on the pack before serving nuts to guests.

  • Choosing a larger pack without a plan for the leftovers

    Nuts should be kept sealed and dry, so pack size matters if you want to use any leftover nuts after breakfast.

    Choose a net weight to suit how much you’ll use, and follow the use-by and storage information on the pack.

Brands to use as a guide

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s product information describes a 350 g mix of unroasted nuts with organic labelling.

  • The ingredients are four types of nuts; Albert Heijn suggests adding them to yoghurt.
  • The proportions are fixed. The pack lists several allergens and possible cross-contact.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes organic, unroasted walnuts in a 110 g pack.

  • The product information lists one organic ingredient and the control code NL-BIO-01.
  • The pack warns that other nuts, peanuts and sesame may be present.

PLUS

PLUS’s product information describes BIO+ unsalted cashews in a 200 g pack.

  • The ingredients list states 99% cashews and organic sunflower oil; the product information includes the terms Organic and EU Organic Farming.
  • The product also contains sunflower oil and warns that peanuts may be present.

Lidl

Lidl presents Alesto as a range of nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.

  • The Dutch Alesto page describes, among other things, 200 g bags of almonds.
  • The brand term ‘natural nuts’ is no substitute for product-specific organic labelling.

ALDI

ALDI’s product information describes an unsalted Trader Joe’s nut mix.

  • The listed ingredients include almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
  • Being unsalted is a different product characteristic from being organically certified.

Duyvis

Duyvis describes products including borrelnootjes, tiger nuts, peanuts and mixes.

  • Duyvis’s product information includes both fried and roasted peanuts.
  • Preparation method and organic certification are separate characteristics; check the specific product and pack.

Joybuy nut mix for breakfast

This Joybuy pick is a nut mix to enjoy with breakfast. Check the organic labelling on the pack before choosing it as an organic option.

g'woon Nut Mix Raw & Unsalted, 200 g

g'woon Nut Mix Raw & Unsalted, 200 g

Joybuy’s product description suggests adding this mix to breakfast. It contains hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews.

The description lists 30% hazelnuts, 30% walnuts, 20% almonds and 20% cashews. The title says Raw & Unsalted, and the pack contains 200 g.

The product description warns that traces of peanuts may be present. There’s no organic labelling in the title, so check the certification and information on the pack if you want to choose organic.

Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘natural’ mean the same as organic?

No. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo can only be used for products certified as organic by an approved control authority or control body. Consider organic labelling separately from terms such as ‘natural’ and ‘unroasted’.

What should I look for in organic certification?

Check for the EU organic logo and the related product information, including the control code and the indication of agricultural origin. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list NL-BIO-01 on the products reviewed; this number is not the same for every organic product.

If a product contains one type of nut, does that mean no other allergens can be present?

No. The Jumbo walnuts reviewed here warn that other nuts, peanuts and sesame may be present. Read both the ingredients list and the precautionary warnings on the pack.

How should I store an opened bag of nuts?

Keep nuts sealed and dry, and follow the instructions on the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping nuts well sealed and storing them in a dry place.

Can I serve the nuts in this selection to young children without taking any extra precautions?

No. The Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo products reviewed here warn that young children may choke on nuts. Take this product warning into account when deciding how to serve them; organic labelling says nothing about whether they’re suitable for young children.