Lunch with allergy requirements
You’re buying for a child with agreed exclusions and want to consider the ingredients, possible presence warnings and the childcare setting’s policy together. A general free-from claim isn’t specific enough for this.
Who is this relevant to?
Lunch for young children
You’re looking for a suitable product format for nursery. With peanuts and nuts, the choking risk is separate from allergies, so spreads and whole nuts are not interchangeable choices. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises giving children up to and including the age of 4 nut butter or peanut butter rather than whole nuts.
Easy everyday sandwich filling
You’re looking for a spread with a simple recipe, provided the ingredients are allowed. Compare the exact ingredients and usage instructions; a claim such as 100% does not make a peanut product peanut-free.
What should you look for when choosing?
First check the agreed allergens and the childcare setting’s policy. Then consider whether the product format is suitable for the child’s age, and only after that look at the recipe and everyday use.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens | Check the agreed allergen, ingredients and warnings on the current packaging. | When I’m buying for a child with allergy requirements, I want to know whether the specific excluded ingredient could be present. Around 34% of consumers prioritise checking allergens in this way. |
| Product format | Consider the child’s age, the texture, eating skills and supervision separately from the allergen information. | For a young child, I want to choose a product format that follows the advice for nursery; choking is still possible for older children too. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a suitable product format. |
| Recipe | Compare the ingredients of the exact variant and check whether sugar or salt has been added. | If I’m packing a spread for lunch every day, I want a simple recipe, once I’ve established that the ingredients are allowed. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Checking with the childcare setting | Read its safety and health policy and discuss the specific lunch arrangements. | I want to know in advance whether the childcare setting can use the product in line with the agreed exclusions. Around 13% of consumers prioritise this practical check. |
The Dutch government states that every childcare organisation has a safety and health policy which parents are entitled to view. This gives you a practical basis for discussing lunch arrangements with the setting.
Common mistakes
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Assuming a free-from claim means free from all allergens
The AH product reviewed is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, but contains peanuts and, according to the product information, may contain various types of nuts.
Check the packaging for the specific ingredient that needs to be avoided, and review the full ingredients and allergen information.
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Choosing unsalted whole nuts because they seem simple
Being unsalted doesn’t change the product format or remove the choking risk for young children.
Consider the product format and allergens separately. For young children, a spread is in line with the advice cited here, provided the ingredients are allowed.
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Confusing 100% peanuts or vegan with nut-free
A product made with 100% peanuts still contains peanuts. PLUS also states that the peanut butter reviewed may contain cashews.
Check both the ingredients and warnings against the specific arrangements for the child.
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Using a taste test to assess whether a product is suitable for an allergy
In its 2023 test, the Consumers’ Association assessed the taste of peanut butter; this doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a child with allergy requirements.
Use taste comparisons to help with flavour preferences only, and check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
The unsalted peanuts reviewed are whole peanuts, not a nut-free nursery snack.
- Duyvis lists peanuts and sunflower oil as ingredients.
- The manufacturer warns that the product may contain traces of various types of nuts. Being unsalted does not change the allergen or choking risk.
Albert Heijn
AH Unsalted Peanuts show that a specific free-from claim is not the same as being peanut-free or nut-free.
- The Dutch product page states that the product is gluten-free and lactose-free.
- The product contains peanuts, may contain eight types of nuts according to the page, and consists of whole peanuts. The page warns of a choking risk for small children.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s 100% Smooth Peanut Butter is an option if peanuts are allowed.
- Jumbo lists peanuts as the only ingredient and identifies peanuts as an allergen present.
- A simple recipe is not a general allergen-free claim. Follow the storage instructions on the jar.
Lidl
The natural peanut butter reviewed is described as a product range with no added ingredients.
- For the variant reviewed, Lidl states that it contains no added sugars and no palm oil.
- This product description does not say that the product is allergen-free. A reference to a past taste test does not prove that it is suitable for someone with an allergy.
ALDI
HELAES 100% peanut butter is a product range reviewed as a sandwich spread.
- The Dutch product page confirms the product identity and 600 g pack size.
- A past taste ranking says nothing about suitability for someone with an allergy; check the current packaging.
PLUS
PLUS 100% peanut butter may suit lunch arrangements that allow a simple peanut recipe.
- PLUS states that the product is 100% peanuts and gives instructions to stir the jar before use and store it in a cool, dry place.
- The product information states that it may contain cashews. Here, a 100% claim does not mean peanut-free or nut-free.
Peanut butter at Joybuy
These products are peanut spreads and are only an option if peanuts are allowed and the childcare setting agrees. They are not suitable as a general allergen-free choice; check the ingredients and warnings for the exact variant.
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PCD peanut butter 350 g
Suitable if peanuts are allowed; do not choose it if peanuts need to be avoided.
The product description states that it is made with 100% peanuts and contains no added sugar or salt.
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Bonne Maman peanut butter with peanut pieces, 325 g
This is a peanut spread with pieces, so it’s only an option if peanuts are allowed.
The product description states that it contains 79% peanuts, as well as sugar, salt and other ingredients. The allergen information lists peanuts; the product information also warns that it may contain nuts.
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Calve Extra Crunchy peanut butter, 350 g
This crunchy peanut spread is only suitable if peanuts and the listed allergens are allowed under the agreed arrangements.
The product description states that it contains no added sugars and lists oil, salt and soya. The allergen information lists peanuts and nuts, with possible traces of milk, cereals containing gluten and soya.
Frequently asked questions
Does lactose-free mean milk-free or allergen-free?
No. Don’t treat lactose-free as a general claim that a product is allergen-free. The NVWA includes milk, including lactose, in allergen information, so check the specific exclusion and all the ingredients. The AH peanut product reviewed is labelled lactose-free, but contains peanuts.
Which cross-contamination warnings apply in the Netherlands?
According to the NVWA, ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’ are permitted phrases when the warning is based on a risk assessment. Enforcement of the new rules began on 1 January 2026. A warning, or the absence of one, does not guarantee that a product is suitable for every individual child.
Where can I check the childcare setting’s lunch arrangements?
Ask to see the setting’s safety and health policy and discuss the specific allergy and lunch arrangements. According to the Dutch government, parents are entitled to view this policy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that the parent committee has the right to advise on the food policy.
Should you stir a jar of 100% peanut butter or keep it chilled?
Follow the instructions on the exact jar. PLUS recommends stirring because a natural layer of oil may form, and says to store the jar in a cool, dry place. Jumbo says to store its product in a cool, dry, dark place; these instructions do not specify how long a prepared lunch can be kept.