If you have a peanut allergy, a peanut snack is not an option. If you have another dietary requirement, check the exact product for its ingredients, allergen information and any relevant ‘free from’ claim. Unsalted describes the salt content, not whether a product is safe for someone with an allergy, and lactose-free does not mean suitable for someone with a milk allergy. So first identify the ingredient you need to avoid.
If you’re buying for yourself or someone with a diagnosed food allergy, check the exact product. Peanuts are not an option if you have a peanut allergy; for any other allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. Stichting Voedselallergie describes peanut allergy as an allergy to proteins in peanuts.
Check the gluten information and any gluten-free claim on the product. The European Commission explains that ‘gluten-free’ is a claim subject to specific EU requirements; on its own, it says nothing about other allergens.
If you can eat peanuts and are mainly looking for an unsalted snack, check the product variant and packaging too. The word ‘unsalted’ does not mean a product is free from other allergens.
Start with the ingredient you need to avoid. Then check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘free from’ claims for the exact product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding peanuts | Check whether peanuts are listed as an ingredient and read any relevant warnings on the packaging. | If I need to avoid peanuts, a peanut snack is not an option. Consumers who prioritise avoiding peanuts make up around 25% of consumers with this choice to make. |
| Gluten information | Read the latest gluten information and check whether the product is labelled gluten-free. | If I can eat peanuts but want to avoid gluten, I check the information for the exact product. Consumers who prioritise avoiding gluten make up around 25% of consumers with this choice to make. |
| Other allergens or lactose | Identify the ingredient you need to avoid and check the ingredients and warnings for it. If you have a milk allergy, you need to look out for milk as an allergen, not just lactose. | If I need to avoid another allergen or lactose, I check that specific ingredient. Consumers who prioritise this make up around 25% of consumers with this choice to make. |
| Unsalted and practical to use | Compare the unsalted option and pack size, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If peanuts fit my diet and I’m mainly looking for an unsalted snack, I also check the packaging. Consumers who prioritise an unsalted snack that’s practical to use make up around 25% of consumers with this choice to make. |
A claim that meets one dietary requirement does not automatically tell you anything about other allergens. Peanuts are an allergen in their own right.
First identify what you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and relevant warnings for the exact product.
‘Unsalted’ describes the salt content, not the absence of other allergens. For example, the local PLUS product variant reviewed here warns that it may contain traces of several allergens. This information applies only to that product variant.
Read the ingredients and warnings separately from the ‘unsalted’ description.
A warning on the packaging matters if you need to avoid the allergen it names. The NVWA says that the Dutch rules on allergen warnings have been in force since 1 January 2026.
Check the current packaging for any warning that’s relevant to you.
Lactose is milk sugar; a milk allergy is an allergy to milk proteins. The Voedingscentrum’s guidance on lactose intolerance makes clear that these are different things to consider when choosing a product.
If you have a milk allergy, check for milk as an allergen. For a lactose-restricted diet, follow the dietary advice that applies to you.
Duyvis offers both unsalted peanuts and Borrelnootjes Cocktail, a savoury coated snack.
AH Unsalted Peanuts is a specific own-brand product in a 300 g pack.
Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts 250 g is a recognisable own-brand product.
Lidl offers unsalted peanuts and the Alesto range, which includes peanuts in a spiced dough coating.
The product information lists Trader Joe’s Pinda’s 250 g as an unsalted option.
PLUS lists products including Extra Large Unsalted Peanuts in a 275 g pack.
No. If you have a peanut allergy, a peanut snack is not an option. Stichting Voedselallergie describes peanut allergy as an allergy to proteins in peanuts; a description such as ‘unsalted’ does not change that.
No. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while a milk allergy relates to milk proteins. The Voedingscentrum explains the difference, so if you have a milk allergy, check for milk as an allergen, not just lactose.
According to the NVWA, labels on prepacked products must provide information about the 14 allergens specified by law. Peanuts, nuts, milk and cereals containing gluten are among them.
Yes. According to the NVWA, the new rules on allergen warnings have been in force since 1 January 2026, and the NVWA has been monitoring compliance since 2026. Check the latest information on the packaging of the product you’re considering.
No. The requirements for the claims ‘gluten-free’ and ‘very low gluten’ are set out in EU Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, as explained by the European Commission. A gluten-free claim does not mean that a product is free from peanuts or other allergens.
Use the information on the packaging you have in front of you, and contact customer services if you’re unsure. Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as ingredients and allergy information may change.
