Start with the specific allergen your guest needs to avoid: party nuts with a peanut centre are unsuitable for someone with a peanut allergy, and gluten-free suitability needs to be checked separately. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging; a snack without a peanut centre isn’t automatically suitable for everyone.
Look for a snack that avoids the specific allergen your guest needs to avoid. Peanuts and tree nuts are different allergen groups, so check the full ingredients list on the packaging. The Food Allergy Foundation explains the difference.
The coating and exact recipe matter when a guest needs to eat gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society says party nuts are usually not gluten-free, so check the information for the specific variety.
You’ll want to serve snacks for different dietary needs clearly labelled and separately. Keep the packaging and use separate serving utensils; the Dutch Coeliac Society explains how gluten can be transferred during preparation or serving.
For a garden party where guests have dietary needs, start with the allergen they need to avoid. Then consider the type of snack, how to serve it and the packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergen | Check the full ingredients list and warnings on the exact packaging; assess peanuts and tree nuts separately. | If I’m shopping for a guest with a food allergy, I want to know whether that specific allergen could be present. In this garden-party context, around 33% of consumers prioritise avoiding a specific allergen. |
| Gluten-free suitability | Check the current information for the variety, including the coating and warnings about possible cross-contamination. | If a guest needs to eat gluten-free, I want to assess the exact snack, not just its base ingredient. Around 27% of consumers prioritise gluten-free suitability. |
| Serving separately | Check whether you can offer snacks separately and use separate serving utensils; keep the packaging available. | When guests with different dietary needs are eating together, I want to keep products clearly labelled and separate. Around 27% of consumers give the highest priority to organising a separate presentation. |
| Packaging and storage | Choose a quantity that suits your serving plan and follow the storage instructions for the exact packaging. | If I want to serve snacks in stages, I consider the quantity and how to store an opened pack. Around 13% of consumers say packaging convenience and storage are their main considerations. |
A claim about artificial colourings doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a specific food allergy. Duyvis describes Poesta and Cocktail as peanuts with a crunchy coating.
Check which allergen your guest needs to avoid and read the ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging.
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between products and varieties. Albert Heijn advises customers to read the packaging before eating a product.
Check the packaging you’re actually buying, even if you choose the same brand or a familiar flavour.
A snack can come into contact with products containing gluten during preparation or serving. The Dutch Coeliac Society identifies cross-contamination as something to consider.
Serve snacks separately, use separate serving utensils and keep the original packaging. These are practical precautions, not a guarantee for every allergy.
Duyvis describes Poesta and Cocktail as peanuts with a crunchy coating. For Cocktail, the manufacturer lists several pack sizes.
Albert Heijn sells products including AH Borrelnoten cocktail; Allerhande also has a recipe for bean “party nuts”.
Jumbo describes Borrelnoten Cocktail 300 g as peanuts with a crispy dough coating.
PLUS Borrelnoten Mild 300 g is a mildly flavoured own-brand variety.
Lidl stocks party nuts and directs customers to the packaging for ingredient information.
ALDI lists TRADER JOE’S Borrelnoten in Bacon-cheese, Poesta and paprika flavours, in 300 g bags.
These are additional savoury snacks without a peanut centre, not party nuts or general allergen-free alternatives. Check the listed allergens and the packaging against your guests’ needs.
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An extra snack to share; this isn’t a party nut. The product information lists egg, wheat (gluten), milk and soya.
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The individual packs can be handy for serving separately. The product information lists 18 g portions and identifies soya as an allergen.
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According to the product information, the box contains 20 individual bags. The same information lists sesame and 5.0 g of salt per 100 g.
No. Peanuts are legumes and are treated separately from nuts. The Food Allergy Foundation therefore advises checking the specific dietary need; don’t assume that a product labelled “nut-free” is also suitable for someone with a peanut allergy.
No. A lactose-free label doesn’t mean that a product is generally free from milk ingredients. Lactose intolerance means being unable to digest milk sugar, or not being able to digest it fully; check the full ingredients list against your guest’s specific needs.
Serve snacks separately with separate serving utensils, and keep the original packaging available. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that gluten can also be transferred during preparation or in the kitchen; these measures aren’t a guarantee for every allergy.
Ask the shop or supplier for the information before choosing the snack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) says allergen information for prepacked products must be shown on the label; missing information doesn’t prove that an allergen is absent.
Before you buy, ask which allergens may be present in the snacks on offer. According to the NVWA, information about relevant allergens must be available. For prepacked products, it appears on the label; for unpackaged products, there are requirements for providing information in writing or verbally.
