If a guest has a peanut allergy, choose a different snack for them: gluten-free or lactose-free does not mean peanut-free. For guests who can eat peanuts but avoid gluten or lactose, the AH unsalted peanuts we looked at have specific gluten-free and lactose-free claims. Check the packaging for the exact product and keep suitable snacks separate when serving.
You want to know which snacks are unsuitable for which guests. If someone has a peanut allergy, a product containing peanuts is not a suitable choice for them; a gluten-free or lactose-free claim does not change that. Stichting Voedselallergie and the Voedingscentrum identify peanuts as an allergen.
Your guests can eat peanuts but avoid gluten or lactose. Check the claim and ingredients for the exact product, especially with coated snacks. Albert Heijn's Dutch product pages list these claims for the unsalted varieties we looked at.
You’re serving snacks that may not be suitable for everyone and want to prevent cross-contamination. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends, among other things, separate serving areas and clean utensils for guests who need gluten-free food.
First find out which allergens a guest needs to avoid, then check the exact product and plan how to serve the snacks separately.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Exclude allergens | Ask which allergen needs to be avoided and read both the ingredients and warnings. | When choosing a snack for a guest with an allergy, I check for the specific allergen rather than relying only on a ‘free from’ claim. Around 36% of consumers prioritise excluding the relevant allergen. |
| Gluten-free or lactose-free | Check the claim on the exact packaging; if the snack has a coating, check the ingredients too. | When my guests can eat peanuts but avoid gluten or lactose, I look for a product with the relevant claim. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this specific dietary option. |
| Serve appropriately | Set aside a separate area, use clean utensils and don’t share dips with snacks containing gluten. | When serving gluten-free snacks alongside other party food, I want to limit contact via hands, utensils and dips. Around 21% of consumers prioritise serving food separately. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare pack sizes and follow the storage instructions on the packaging you buy. | For a get-together with a limited number of guests, I don’t want to buy more than I need and I want to be able to store leftovers properly. Around 14% of consumers give the quantity needed and leftovers the greatest weight. |
A peanut product can be labelled gluten-free or lactose-free and still contain peanuts. These claims are not the same as a general declaration that a product is allergen-free.
Start with the allergen your guest needs to avoid. If they have a peanut allergy, choose a different type of snack for them.
Ingredients can vary by flavour. For example, Duyvis lists wheat-containing starch and lactose from milk in its Borrelnootjes Cocktail; the unsalted variety we looked at has a different ingredients list.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack before choosing a product.
Snacks containing gluten can come into contact with gluten-free snacks via hands, utensils or a shared dip. The Dutch Coeliac Society specifically warns against sharing dips.
Put out a separate bowl of dip and use clean utensils and a separate serving area.
If a snack or dip is no longer suitable after serving, you may need to replace it.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. A claim on one pack does not automatically apply to other varieties from the same brand.
Check the information on the pack you actually buy and keep for the get-together.
The varieties we looked at include unsalted peanuts and coated party nuts.
The own-brand varieties we looked at are unsalted and have specific gluten-free and lactose-free claims on their Dutch product pages.
The Jumbo variety we looked at is a 250 g pack of unsalted peanuts.
The PLUS Pinda’s Extra Groot ongezouten variety we looked at comes in a 275 g tub.
Lidl lists unsalted peanuts as a product type, which may be useful if you want to check what’s available at your usual supermarket.
Aldi lists roasted, unsalted Trader Joe’s peanuts in a 250 g pack.
These Joybuy products are peanut options for a get-together if your guests can eat peanuts; check the information for the exact variety before buying.
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An option for a get-together where unsalted peanuts are a good fit and your guests can eat peanuts.
Pack size: 250 g.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for your guests.
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An option if you’d like to serve peanuts in their shells and your guests can eat peanuts.
Pack size: 500 g.
Check the packaging to see whether this variety is suitable for the allergens your guests need to avoid.
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An option for a get-together where roasted peanuts are preferred and your guests can eat peanuts.
Pack size: 210 g.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for this exact variety before serving.
No. Lactose-free is a specific dietary claim, not a general statement that a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy. Check the ingredients and allergen information for milk.
No. A gluten-free claim does not make a product containing peanuts suitable for someone with a peanut allergy. Choose a different snack for that guest, and check its ingredients and relevant warnings too.
Keep the snacks separate and use clean utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends keeping gluten-free products sealed for as long as possible and using a separate dip bowl, so snacks containing gluten don’t end up in the gluten-free dip.
It warns that an allergen may be present unintentionally. The NVWA links this type of warning to a risk assessment; check the packaging to see which allergen is involved and decide whether the product is suitable for your guest’s needs.
For the variety we looked at, Albert Heijn recommends storing the peanuts in a cool, dark, dry place and closing the pack securely after use. Check the label for other varieties.
