If a guest has a peanut allergy, peanuts aren’t suitable for them: choose a different snack and check the label for the relevant allergen and cross-contamination warnings. If peanuts are suitable, match the product to any specific gluten- or lactose-related needs. A free-from label doesn’t mean a product is allergen-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against serving whole peanuts to children under 4.
You’re looking for snacks for guests who need to avoid peanuts or another specific allergen. The Dutch Food Allergy Foundation advises checking the full ingredients list on every product. Also look out for warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Your guests can eat peanuts but have other dietary requirements. Check the exact product: uncoated peanuts and crunchy coated snack nuts may contain different ingredients.
Your birthday party brings together people with different dietary requirements or young children. Keeping the original packaging with each snack helps guests or parents check the label for themselves. Keep snacks separate during preparation, too.
First, establish which ingredient a guest needs to avoid. Then check the exact product, how it will be served and whether you can keep the packaging at the party.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding the right allergen | Check the ingredients and any warning about possible cross-contamination on the exact product packaging. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen for a guest, I want to be able to check the ingredients and warnings separately. Around 36% of consumers put allergen avoidance first. |
| A gluten- or lactose-free option | Check the product, ingredients and relevant free-from label; don’t confuse lactose-free with milk-free. | If peanuts are suitable but a guest avoids gluten or lactose, I check the precise ingredients and product. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a specific gluten- or lactose-free option. |
| Serving it appropriately | Choose a form that’s suitable for the age group, and keep snacks and their original packaging clearly separate. | For a mixed group, I want to take young children into account and make it easy to check the snacks. Around 21% of consumers prioritise how snacks are served. |
| How much you need | Compare the weight of the chosen pack with the amount you want to serve, and follow the storage instructions. | Once the dietary choice and serving method are clear, I work out how much I need for the party and how to store any leftovers. Around 14% of consumers focus mainly on the quantity required. |
A product may be labelled gluten- or lactose-free and still contain peanuts. That doesn’t make it suitable for someone with a peanut allergy.
Find out which allergen the guest needs to avoid. If they have a peanut allergy, don’t choose a peanut product.
According to the manufacturer, Duyvis Borrelnootjes Cocktail contains wheat and lactose from milk as well as peanuts.
Check the full ingredients list for the flavour you choose, not just the product category or brand name.
The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that gluten can get into a product during preparation, even if the product itself shouldn’t contain gluten.
Keep snacks separate during preparation and store each pack with its corresponding snack.
Preparing separate portions takes extra planning.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says whole peanuts and nuts aren’t suitable for children under 4 because of the risk of choking.
Don’t give whole peanuts or nuts to children under 4. Choosing a different form doesn’t remove the risk of an allergic reaction.
Worth considering for uncoated peanuts and crunchy coated snack nuts; ingredients vary by product and flavour.
Worth considering for own-brand peanuts with published dietary information, or as a separate snack with no peanuts listed in the ingredients.
Worth considering for un salted own-brand peanuts with published ingredients and allergen information.
A supermarket option for unsalted peanuts.
A supermarket option for roasted, unsalted Trader Joe’s peanuts.
Worth considering for 250 g packs of unsalted own-brand peanuts.
This selection includes snacks that don’t list peanuts as an ingredient, as well as peanuts for guests who can eat them. Always check the exact packaging for allergens and cross-contamination warnings.
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A snack option if peanuts need to be avoided as an ingredient; the listed ingredients are maize and 0.3% sea salt.
The product description says it may contain soya. Check the packaging for allergens relevant to your guest.
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For guests who can eat peanuts and are looking for an unsalted option; the product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil.
Contains peanuts and may contain cashews. Not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy; check the warnings on the packaging.
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A granola option for guests who can eat peanuts. The product title says Glutenfree; if you need a gluten-free option, check the current packaging and information about possible cross-contamination.
The ingredients information lists peanuts and oat flakes, and warns that the product may contain almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans and soya.
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For guests who can eat peanuts and want to serve them in their shells. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says whole peanuts aren’t suitable for children under 4.
Contains peanuts and may contain traces of nuts. Check the packaging and take the ages of your guests into account.
The NVWA lists 14 allergens that must be declared. Check peanuts and nuts separately against the ingredients and relevant warnings on the label.
These are warnings about possible cross-contamination, not ingredient declarations. According to the NVWA, the Dutch rules for these warnings have applied since 1 January 2026. Follow the wording on the current packaging and don’t try to decide for yourself what amount is safe.
No. Lactose intolerance and milk allergy are different types of food hypersensitivity. Don’t rely on a lactose-free label instead of checking whether milk is listed as an allergen.
Keep the original packaging with the corresponding snack so the guest or parent can check the full ingredients list. Keep snacks separate during preparation and avoid contact with crumbs from other products.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of the product you choose. For the unsalted peanuts reviewed, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a cool, dark, dry place and sealing the pack securely after use.
Follow the product-specific warning and check that the brand, product and best-before date match. On 20 May 2026, Albert Heijn issued a warning about AH Pinda’s extra groot gezouten in a tub with a best-before date of 04-11-2026 because it may contain metal fragments. This warning doesn’t automatically apply to other products or dates.
