Parents introducing peanuts
You’re looking for a peanut product with a texture that’s suitable for your baby. The Voedingscentrum recommends smooth peanut butter with no pieces; whole peanuts are not suitable for babies.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families with separate snack times
You want to portion out peanuts for other family members while giving your baby different food. In that case, a 3-pack or portion pack is a packaging choice for the rest of the family, not an indication that the contents are suitable for a baby. Albert Heijn and bol list examples of these types of packs.
Parents packing a lunchbox
You want to send food with your child, so you need to check the allergen information and the school or childcare provider’s rules. Ask the setting what policy applies there; this does not imply that there is one general rule for all schools in the Netherlands.
What should you look for when choosing?
Whole peanuts in a multipack
Suitable when: you’re looking for individual snacks for adult family members.
Bear in mind: a portion pack doesn’t make whole peanuts suitable for your baby.
Whole peanuts in a single pack
Suitable when: other family members want unsalted peanuts and prefer to portion them out themselves.
Bear in mind: a larger pack isn’t a multipack, and whole peanuts aren’t baby food.
Smooth peanut butter for introducing peanuts
Suitable when: you want to introduce peanuts to your baby in the form recommended by the Voedingscentrum.
Bear in mind: peanut butter still contains peanuts. If your baby has severe eczema or a food allergy, speak to a doctor or dietitian first.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture for your baby | Decide who will be eating the peanuts. For your baby, choose the recommended peanut butter with no pieces and no added salt or sugar. | When I choose food for my baby, a suitable texture matters more than the convenience of a packet. Around 36% of consumers put texture at the top of their list when shopping. |
| Allergens and introduction | Read the ingredients and allergen information; unsalted doesn’t mean allergen-free. If your baby has severe eczema or a food allergy, speak to a doctor or dietitian first. | When introducing peanuts, I want to know what’s in the product and which form is suitable. Around 29% of consumers prioritise allergen information and a suitable way to introduce peanuts. |
| Packaging and portioning | Check the number of individual packs, the weight per packet and the total weight. Don’t use a packet as a recommended portion for your baby. | When portioning snacks for other family members, I want to know how many individual packs I’ll get and how much each one contains. Around 21% of consumers put this packaging choice first. |
| Taking food to school or childcare | Ask the setting about its current rules on peanuts, nuts and peanut butter; also check the product warnings. | When I send food with my child, I want to know in advance whether it complies with the rules at the setting receiving it. Around 14% of consumers make these rules their first consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a small packet for a safe portion for a baby
The contents are still whole peanuts. GroeiGids advises against giving whole peanuts or nuts to children under 4 because of the risk of choking.
Keep snacks for other family members separate from your baby’s food. To introduce peanuts, choose the recommended smooth peanut butter.
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Assuming unsalted means suitable for babies or allergen-free
‘Unsalted’ says nothing about the texture and doesn’t mean a product is free from allergens.
Check the texture, ingredients and allergen information separately. For a baby, also consider whether the form is suitable according to feeding advice.
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Mistaking a value pack for a multipack
A resealable bag and several individual portion packs offer different ways of portioning snacks.
Check the number of individual packs and the weight per packet and per pack, rather than looking only at the number of packs.
With a large bag, you’ll need to portion the contents yourself. This may involve extra steps and, possibly, storage containers.
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Reading a general allergen field separately from the ingredients
In bol’s listing for Duyvis Gezouten Pinda’s 20 x 60 g, peanuts appear in the ingredients, while the allergen field states ‘no allergens’.
Don’t treat a product as allergen-free based on a single field. Check the allergen information on the packaging; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that this information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
Duyvis appears in listings for salted peanuts in a 3-pack and a 20 x 60 g portion pack.
- Albert Heijn lists the salted 3-pack; bol lists the 20 x 60 g portion pack.
- Duyvis lists peanuts, sunflower oil and salt for its salted variety. Whole peanuts aren’t baby food, whatever the packaging.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists both the Duyvis 3-pack and AH Terra Plantaardig 100% pindakaas naturel.
- The peanut butter listing offers a different type of product from whole peanuts.
- The product name alone doesn’t confirm the full ingredients or texture. For your baby, check that the peanut butter is smooth and contains no added salt or sugar.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists 350 g packs of Ongezouten Kingsize Pinda’s.
- The product listing specifies a 350 g pack.
- This isn’t a confirmed multipack. Unsalted whole peanuts aren’t suitable as a snack for a baby.
Lidl
Lidl Nederland lists unsalted peanuts as an option in its range.
- The product listing specifies unsalted peanuts.
- The listing doesn’t provide useful information about multipack contents. Unsalted whole peanuts are still not suitable for babies.
ALDI
ALDI Nederland lists 250 g packs of Trader Joe’s peanuts, roasted and unsalted.
- The listing gives the weight and confirms that they’re unsalted.
- This isn’t a confirmed multipack; roasted whole peanuts aren’t a suitable snack for a baby.
PLUS
PLUS lists 300 g resealable bags of unsalted roasted peanuts.
- The product information gives a weight of 300 g and states that the product contains peanuts.
- The information warns that the product may contain various tree nuts. The resealable bag isn’t a multipack, and the whole peanuts aren’t intended as baby food.
Peanuts at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are packs of whole peanuts for individual snacks for other family members; they aren’t multipacks or baby food.
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Verse Extra Large Roasted Peanuts, 210 g
An option to keep separate as a snack for adult family members; the product name specifies roasted peanuts in a 210 g pack. Not baby food: GroeiGids advises against giving whole peanuts to children under 4.
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g'woon Unsalted Peanuts, 250 g
An option to keep separate for snacks for other family members; the product name specifies unsalted peanuts and 250 g. The product information states that it may contain cashew nuts. Not baby food: according to GroeiGids, whole peanuts aren’t suitable for children under 4.
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g'woon Peanuts in Shell, 500 g
A pack of peanuts in their shells to keep separate as a snack for adult family members; the product name specifies 500 g. The product information warns that it may contain traces of nuts. Not baby food: GroeiGids advises against giving whole peanuts to children under 4.
Frequently asked questions
When can I introduce peanuts?
The Voedingscentrum recommends introducing peanuts before your baby is 8 months old. You can start with tastes from 4 months and add peanut butter once your baby is used to them. If your baby has severe eczema or a food allergy, the Voedingscentrum recommends introducing peanuts before 6 months after speaking to a doctor or dietitian.
Should I give whole peanuts as finger food when introducing peanuts?
No, don’t give whole peanuts or nuts to children under 4. GroeiGids warns of the risk of choking; for introducing peanuts, the Voedingscentrum recommends smooth peanut butter, for example mixed into a vegetable or fruit purée.
Should I offer peanuts again after the first introduction?
Yes. The Voedingscentrum leaflet recommends offering peanuts weekly until at least 1 year of age, either in one sitting or spread over several days. This means a form suitable for baby food, not a packet of whole peanuts.
What allergen information must appear on packaged peanuts?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label. Peanuts and nuts are separate allergens; read the information on the packaging, and don’t take it as proof that the product is suitable for a baby.
How should I store Duyvis portion packs?
The product listing for Duyvis Gezouten Pinda’s 20 x 60 g says to store in a cool, dry place. Follow the storage and use-by instructions on the packaging; don’t automatically apply this guidance to another product.