Snackers looking for genuinely lower-fat options
You want to know exactly what a lower-fat claim is comparing. Ordinary oven-baked peanuts are not the same as a reformulated peanut snack.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers who pay attention to what they buy
You compare packs and don’t want to mistake ordinary peanuts for a lower-fat product.
Snackers keeping an eye on portion size and salt
You want to know how much you’re eating and look at energy and salt as well as fat. Unsalted and seasoned roasted peanuts have different nutritional profiles.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need an explicit lower-fat claim. Then check the nutritional information, ingredients and portion size for the specific variety.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| The claim and comparison | Read which snack is used for comparison, and check the ingredients and fat per 100 g. ‘Less fat’ is not the same as ‘low fat’. | If I want to replace an ordinary peanut snack, I want to know what the claim is comparing it with. Around 29% of consumers prioritise a demonstrable reduction in fat compared with a suitable reference snack. |
| Pack size and quantity | Check the net weight and choose a quantity that suits how much you’ll actually use. | If I’m choosing peanuts for home, I want the pack size to match the amount I’ll get through. Around 29% of consumers give top priority to pack size and how they’ll use the product. |
| Portion size and energy | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and, if needed, work them out for the portion you’ll actually eat. | If I want to manage my snack portion, I pay attention to how much fat and energy it contains. Around 24% of consumers put portion size and energy ahead of other selection criteria. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check the salt per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. | If I’m looking for unsalted peanuts, I want the ingredients to match that preference. Around 18% of consumers give an unsalted product the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Mistaking oven-baked or dry-roasted peanuts for low-fat
The way a product is made doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much fat it contains. Jumbo lists 43,1 g of fat per 100 g for its Pinda’s Dry Roasted; the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g per 100 g for the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods.
Read the nutritional information and check the exact claim before choosing a variety as low-fat. Duyvis describes Oven Baked Peanuts Original as roasted without added oil or fat; that description alone doesn’t prove the product is low in fat.
-
Looking at a lower-fat claim without checking what it’s compared with
An older Albert Heijn listing for Duyvis Oven Roasted Borrelnoten Herbs&Onion described it as having 30% less fat than ordinary peanuts in a crispy coating on average in the Netherlands. This is not a direct comparison with plain peanuts; the listing is marked ‘Discontinued’.
When you see a claim, check which product is used as the reference and also look at the peanut content, energy, salt and ingredients.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
The range includes ordinary peanuts, oven-baked peanuts and coated bar snacks; the preparation method and a lower-fat claim are separate product characteristics.
- Duyvis describes Oven Baked Peanuts Original as roasted without added oil or fat.
- Albert Heijn listed a claim of 30% less fat for Herbs&Onion and Sweet Paprika compared with ordinary peanuts in a crispy coating. The product listings are marked ‘Discontinued’ and are not current buying recommendations.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand unsalted peanuts are an ordinary peanut variety, not a product with a lower-fat claim.
- For the 500 g bag reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 97% peanuts and 51 g of fat per 100 g.
- The Duyvis claim on Albert Heijn product listings is not a claim about Albert Heijn’s own-brand products.
Jumbo
The seasoned Pinda’s Dry Roasted variety is worth considering if you’re looking for a roasted, flavoured snack.
- For the 200 g pack, Jumbo lists 43,1 g of fat, 564 kcal and 1,80 g of salt per 100 g.
- The variety contains wheat. ‘Dry roasted’ is not, by itself, a lower-fat claim; check the ingredients and allergens on the exact pack.
Lidl
The Dutch product listing is for unsalted peanuts in a 285 g pack.
- The listing clearly states the product type and net weight.
- ‘Unsalted’ tells you nothing about whether the product has a fat-reduction claim.
Aldi
The Dutch product page lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted peanuts, 250 g. Aldi is the retailer; Trader Joe’s is the product brand named.
- The product listing describes the peanuts as roasted and unsalted, and gives them a Nutri-Score A.
- These details are not a product-specific lower-fat claim; assess the nutritional information separately.
PLUS
The own-brand variety reviewed is an ordinary unsalted peanut snack in a 250 g bag.
- PLUS lists 50 g of fat per 100 g for this variety.
- Unsalted does not mean low-fat, and it is not a lower-fat claim.
Peanuts at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are ordinary peanuts: unsalted, in their shells or roasted. The product information lists 49–50 g of fat per 100 g, so they are not low-fat products. If you’re looking for a lower-fat variety, check the nutritional information and ingredients for each product.
No image available
g'woon Unsalted Peanuts, 250 g
Suitable if you’re looking for unsalted peanuts and don’t require a lower-fat product.
Joybuy product information lists 99% peanuts, 50 g of fat and 0,02 g of salt per 100 g.
No image available
G'woon Peanuts in Shell, 500 g
Suitable if you’re looking for peanuts in their shells and want to take the pack size into account.
Joybuy product information lists 49 g of fat and 0,12 g of salt per 100 g.
No image available
Verse Extra Large Roasted Peanuts, 210 g
Suitable if you’re looking for roasted peanuts and want to compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
Joybuy product information lists 100% peanuts, 50 g of fat and 0,02 g of salt per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Does unsalted mean low-fat?
No. ‘Unsalted’ refers to salt, not fat. For the unsalted peanuts reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 51 g of fat per 100 g. For the ‘low fat’ claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g.
Does 30% less fat mean 30% fewer calories?
No. Don’t infer a change in energy from a claim about fat. The European Commission has a separate requirement for reduced energy claims. So compare the energy per 100 g separately. The older Duyvis listing at Albert Heijn compared Herbs&Onion with ordinary peanuts in a crispy coating, not with plain peanuts.
Are roasted peanuts automatically low-fat?
No. The preparation method alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is low in fat. Jumbo lists 43,1 g of fat per 100 g for its Pinda’s Dry Roasted; check the nutritional information and the claim for the exact variety.
Are roasted peanuts always suitable if I avoid wheat or gluten?
No. Jumbo Pinda’s Dry Roasted contains wheat flour and lists wheat and gluten as allergens. Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings for the exact variety.
What should I look for when choosing peanuts for young children?
Take the choking hazard warning into account. The product information reviewed for Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS peanuts includes this warning; it does not specify a universal age limit. Follow the warning on the pack of the product you choose.