For snacking or as an addition to breakfast, choose unsalted peanuts if the exact product is verifiably organic and suitable for the people eating them. Check the organic labelling separately from the ingredients and allergen information, buy an amount that suits your guests, and store any leftovers in a sealed container in a cool, dry place.
You want to serve organic peanuts and look for verifiable organic information, rather than relying on words such as ‘natural’. Albert Heijn lists a product as organic and unsalted. The requirements for organic products are also set out in EU Regulation (EU) 2018/848, as explained by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
You’re looking for peanuts to enjoy as a snack or alongside breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes unsalted peanuts in its Wheel of Five healthy eating guidelines. Check the ingredients list on the exact pack too, to see what else it contains.
You’re mindful of guests with a peanut allergy and of young children. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority identifies peanuts as an allergen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also warns that whole peanuts can pose a choking risk to young children.
Start by checking the organic labelling on the exact pack. Then check the allergen information, ingredients and quantity to make sure they suit your guests and how you plan to serve the peanuts.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiably organic | Check the organic labelling, control code and country-of-origin information for the exact product. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency explains the rules set out in EU Regulation 2018/848. | I want to serve peanuts that are verifiably organic, not just described as ‘natural’. For around 36% of consumers, organic origin is their main purchasing concern. |
| Suitable for your guests | Read the allergen information on the pack. If young children will be there, bear in mind the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice about whole peanuts. Peanuts are an allergen according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. | If guests with allergies or young children are coming, I want to know in advance what I can serve and how to offer it appropriately. Around 29% of consumers prioritise suitability for their guests. |
| Unsalted ingredients | Compare the ingredients and salt content of the exact product. Unsalted does not automatically mean that it contains only peanuts. | For a snack or as an addition to breakfast, I’m looking for an unsalted option and checking whether oil or other ingredients have been added. Around 21% of consumers give the ingredients the highest priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a net weight that suits how much you want to serve. Store any leftovers in a sealed container in a dry place, preferably somewhere cool, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | I don’t want to buy more than I can serve, and I want to store any leftovers properly. For around 14% of consumers, quantity and storage are their main purchasing concerns. |
Organic production does not remove peanut proteins from peanuts. The Food Allergy Foundation describes peanut allergy as an allergy to these proteins.
Check the organic and allergen information separately, and take your guests’ needs into account.
On its own, ‘unsalted’ tells you nothing about a product’s organic status or all of its ingredients. PLUS’s product page lists 96% peanuts and sunflower oil in its 300 g unsalted stand-up pouch.
Check both the organic labelling and the ingredients list for the product you’re buying.
Leftovers need to be stored appropriately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping peanuts in a sealed container in a dry place, as they are susceptible to mould.
Choose an amount that suits your plans and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Albert Heijn lists a product called AH Organic Unsalted Peanuts.
Duyvis describes product ranges that include salted, unsalted, marinated and coated peanuts.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s unsalted peanuts in a 250 g pack.
The product page for PLUS’s unsalted stand-up pouch lists a 300 g pack.
No. When buying organic, look for the organic labelling and the accompanying information on the pack. ‘Natural’ is not a substitute for the organic requirements set out in EU Regulation 2018/848, as explained by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.
No. PLUS’s product page lists 96% peanuts and sunflower oil in its 300 g unsalted stand-up pouch. So check the ingredients list for the exact product.
Being organic does not make peanuts suitable for someone with a peanut allergy. The allergy is to peanut proteins. The Food Allergy Foundation says that even a tiny amount can cause a severe reaction in some people.
Bear in mind the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice about the choking risk from whole peanuts, and choose what to serve with the children who will be there in mind. Organic production does not change the product’s whole form.
Store peanuts in a sealed container in a dry place, preferably somewhere cool. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 10 to 15 °C as an example of a suitable cool storage temperature. Also follow the best-before date and any storage instructions on the pack.
