For breakfast or a snack while travelling, choose between whole peanuts and peanut butter based on when you plan to eat; peanut butter is not a substitute for whole peanuts and is subject to the rules on liquids in hand luggage. When choosing organic, check the certification and ingredients separately: unsalted does not mean organic. Albert Heijn lists its two certified organic varieties of whole peanuts, both 200 g, as no longer available in its range.
You want to buy organic peanuts and be able to tell a certification mark apart from claims such as natural or unsalted. Check the organic product information and the certification body; a product listing does not automatically tell you whether the product is still available. The European Commission explains what organic information should appear on prepacked products.
You’re looking for peanuts for breakfast and are keeping an eye on salt, ingredients and portion size. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, unsalted nuts and peanut butter made from 100% peanuts fit into the Wheel of Five.
You want to take food through Schiphol and choose packaging that suits when you’ll eat it and the luggage you’re carrying. Schiphol and the Dutch government treat peanut butter as a liquid or paste under the hand luggage rules.
First decide whether you’re looking for whole peanuts to snack on or peanut butter for your bread; then check the certification, ingredients and travel rules for the exact product packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic certification | Check the EU organic logo, the code of the certification body and the indication of agricultural origin. The EU organic logo is mandatory on prepacked foods produced in the EU and sold as organic. | I want to be able to see on the packaging that the organic claim can be verified. Around 31% of consumers put certification first. |
| Ingredients and portion | Read the ingredients list and the salt information; organic, unsalted and 100% peanuts describe different qualities. | For breakfast, I want to know what’s in the peanuts or peanut butter and what portion I’m having. Around 25% of consumers focus mainly on ingredients and portion size. |
| Product type and travel | Decide whether you’ll eat the product before security or take it with you. For peanut butter in standard hand luggage, the limit is 100 ml per container, and the rules for the liquids bag also apply. | I choose packaging to suit my journey and when I plan to eat it. Around 25% of consumers put convenience while travelling first. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose an amount that suits how you’ll use it, and store any leftovers in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends these storage conditions for peanuts. | I want to take only what I’ll use and store any leftovers properly. Around 13% of consumers are mainly looking for an appropriate quantity. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and any warnings about other allergens on the packaging. An organic claim does not change the fact that the product contains peanuts. | If I’m shopping for someone else, I check the allergens on the exact packaging. Around 6% of consumers put allergen safety first. |
An organic claim and the ingredients list tell you different things. The certified organic unsalted AH peanuts also contain sunflower oil.
Check the certification information and ingredients separately; don’t treat the word unsalted as proof of organic certification.
Schiphol classifies peanut butter as a liquid. For standard containers in hand luggage, the limit is 100 ml per container, and the rules for the liquids bag also apply.
Check the volume in millilitres before you travel. Schiphol advises putting larger containers in your hold luggage.
If a container doesn’t meet the hand luggage requirements, you’ll need to transport it another way or leave it behind before security.
Peanuts are susceptible to mould and should be stored in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place.
Choose an amount that suits your needs and store any leftovers in an airtight container, following the label instructions.
Once opened, you’ll need a suitable airtight place to store the leftovers.
Its product range includes organic peanut butter and listings for organic whole peanuts.
Jumbo lists a separate organic peanut butter option for breakfast.
Duyvis offers an unsalted variety of whole peanuts for snacking or having with breakfast.
PLUS lists its own whole peanuts and organic peanut butter from another brand as separate options.
Lidl lists whole peanuts as an in-store product.
Aldi’s range information distinguishes between several TRADER JOE’S peanut varieties.
Check the organic product claim and the accompanying certification information. The EU organic logo is mandatory on prepacked foods produced in the EU and sold as organic; the certification body’s code and the agricultural origin must also be shown. This origin does not automatically mean that the ingredients come from the Netherlands.
Peanut butter is subject to the rules on liquids. Schiphol’s general guidance for hand luggage is that items are allowed unless they are dangerous or prohibited. Check the current rules for the product you’re taking. Being allowed through security does not confirm that you can also bring the food into your destination country.
You can’t tell from the weight alone: Schiphol classifies peanut butter as a liquid, and standard containers in hand luggage may hold no more than 100 ml. The containers must also meet the requirements for the liquids bag. A weight of 350 g doesn’t tell you how many millilitres the jar holds; according to Schiphol, larger containers should go in your hold luggage.
Store peanuts in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place. For unopened packs, follow the best-before date and storage advice on the label.
No. Organic farming does not change the fact that the product contains peanuts. Also read the warnings about other allergens on the exact packaging; these can vary from product to product.
