Choose peanuts only if they are suitable for everyone they’re intended for. If someone has a peanut allergy, you’ll need a different snack, with allergen information that’s suitable for them. A gluten-free or lactose-free label doesn’t make peanuts suitable for someone who needs to avoid them. Then check for any other allergens and choose a quantity that suits how you’ll use and store them.
If someone in your family needs to avoid peanuts, choose a different snack and check the ingredients and allergen information for that person. Stichting Voedselallergie and the NVWA identify peanuts as an allergen.
If, for example, you’re looking for a gluten-free or lactose-free label and peanuts are suitable, also check separately that peanuts and any other listed allergens are compatible with the diet. Albert Heijn displays these claims for its AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g variety.
If the peanuts are suitable for those eating them, choose a pack size that matches how much you expect to use and how you’ll store it after opening. Product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo lists a range of pack sizes and storage advice.
First, check whether peanuts themselves are suitable for the people who’ll be eating them. Then look for the specific free-from claim and any other allergens. Only then choose a pack size to suit how you’ll use and store them.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding an allergen | Check the ingredients and any warnings about possible presence on the exact pack. | If someone needs to avoid peanuts, I choose a different snack and check the relevant allergen information. Around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding the relevant allergen when shopping for their family. |
| A specific free-from claim | Look for the claim on the exact variety and check for any other allergens too. | For example, I’m looking for gluten-free or lactose-free, but peanuts still need to be suitable for the person eating them. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a specific free-from claim. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the net weight with how much you expect to use, and follow the storage and resealing instructions. | Once I know it’s suitable for the diet, I want a quantity that’s easy to store after opening. Around 21% of consumers prioritise having the right amount in stock and choosing a suitable pack size. |
| Salted or unsalted | Read the ingredients for the variety you’re considering. Choosing unsalted doesn’t change the fact that it contains peanuts. | If peanuts are suitable, I choose a variety based on the ingredients I want. Around 14% of consumers prioritise an unsalted option. |
A specific claim such as gluten-free or lactose-free doesn’t mean a product contains no peanuts or is suitable for every diet. The AH variety labelled gluten-free and lactose-free contains peanuts and may contain several types of nuts.
Be clear about which ingredient the person needs to avoid. If they have a peanut allergy, don’t choose a peanut product, and check the information for the relevant allergens.
PLUS product information notes that the product may contain cashew nuts; Jumbo notes that it may contain nuts. Ingredients and warnings provide different information.
Read both on the pack for the exact variety and check whether the warning is relevant to the allergy of the person who’ll be eating it.
Pack sizes vary, and a product may not be suitable for everyone in the family. Albert Heijn advises resealing the pack properly after use.
First work out who can eat the peanuts and how much you’re likely to use. Then follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Voedingscentrum identifies whole peanuts, nuts and popcorn as foods that can pose a choking risk. So another type of snack isn’t automatically suitable just because of its shape.
Consider the food’s shape and texture separately from allergens, and stay close by while your child is eating.
The manufacturer offers both unsalted and salted peanuts.
AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g is a specific variety with particular dietary claims.
Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts Value Pack 500 g is a larger pack.
Lidl Netherlands lists unsalted peanuts in a 285 g pack.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted peanuts in a 250 g pack.
PLUS Unsalted Peanuts 250 g is a smaller pack with published ingredients and storage information.
The Joybuy products below are peanuts for anyone who has first checked the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety.
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A good option if unsalted peanuts are suitable for the people eating them.
Product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil; the product may contain cashew nuts.
The pack contains 250 g.
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A good option if peanuts in shells suit how the people eating them will use them and their dietary needs.
Product information lists peanuts as an ingredient and notes possible traces of nuts.
The pack contains 500 g; follow the storage and resealing instructions on the pack.
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A good option if roasted, unsalted peanuts are suitable for the people eating them.
Product information describes them as 100% peanuts and unsalted, roasted peanuts. Check the current pack and allergen information before buying; don’t assume the product is free from all allergens.
The pack contains 210 g.
No. Don’t rely on a lactose-free label instead of checking for milk as an allergen. The NVWA includes milk, including lactose, in its allergen information, so read the full ingredients and allergen information for the variety.
They indicate possible unintended presence and are different from an ingredient. The NVWA says businesses must do as much as possible to prevent cross-contamination and assess any remaining risks. Since 1 January 2026, the NVWA has listed ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’ as permitted precautionary statements.
According to the NVWA, allergen information must appear on the labels of prepacked products. The NVWA lists 14 allergens, including peanuts, nuts and milk; peanuts and nuts are separate categories.
Voedingscentrum warns that whole peanuts and nuts can pose a choking risk. Consider the food’s shape and texture separately from allergens, stay nearby while your child is eating and make sure they sit calmly. Popcorn isn’t automatically a suitable alternative.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. Albert Heijn advises storing AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g in a cool, dark and dry place, and resealing the pack properly after use. For its 250 g variety, PLUS advises storing it in a dry, dark place.
