If you have a peanut allergy, peanuts are not a suitable snack: choose a product from outside the peanut category and check the school’s rules too. If peanuts are suitable, check the exact free-from claim and allergen warning on the packaging; unsalted or gluten-free does not mean peanut-free.
You’re looking for something for a pupil with a peanut allergy, or a school rule that excludes peanuts. Start with a snack outside the peanut category; a peanut product with a different dietary claim is not a substitute. The NVWA explains what allergen information must appear on pre-packed products.
You can eat peanuts but want a product that meets another specific dietary need. Check the claim for the exact variety and read the information about peanuts and any tree nuts too.
You can eat peanuts and want a plain option to add to lunch. Check the salt information, pack a suitable amount and store the rest in a dry, tightly sealed container, as the Voedingscentrum advises for nuts.
Start with what the pupil needs to avoid, then check whether the snack is allowed under the school’s rules. Only if both conditions are met should you consider product features such as a specific free-from claim or choosing an unsalted option.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergen to avoid | Check whether the product contains peanuts and read any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens too. | If peanuts need to be avoided due to an allergy, a peanut product is not suitable. Around 36% of consumers put allergen avoidance first. |
| School rules | Check whether the rule applies to peanuts, tree nuts, both, or products carrying a precautionary warning too. | If school rules determine what can go in a lunchbox, check exactly which products they cover. Around 21% of consumers give school approval their highest priority. |
| Specific dietary claim | Look for the claim on the exact variety and check the full ingredients and allergen information. | If peanuts are suitable but you need, for example, a gluten-free or lactose-free product, look for that specific claim. Around 29% of consumers prioritise another specific dietary claim. |
| Packing an unsalted option | Check the nutritional information and serving size, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If allergens and school rules are not an issue, an unsalted plain option may be a simple addition to lunch. Around 14% of consumers prioritise the convenience of packing an unsalted option. |
An AH variety we reviewed is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, but it contains peanuts and carries a warning that it may contain tree nuts. Those claims do not tell you whether the product is peanut-free.
First identify the allergen or ingredient that needs to be avoided. Then check the ingredients and warnings for that exact variety.
The plain peanut products we reviewed, made with peanuts and sunflower oil, also warn that they may contain nuts. A short ingredients list does not rule out such a warning.
Read the precautionary warning and consider whether it is suitable for the specific dietary need; don’t base your choice on the ingredients list alone.
The Duyvis bacon and cheese-flavoured variety we reviewed lists milk and wheat as well as peanuts. A flavour coating may add different ingredients and allergens to those in a plain variety.
Compare the full ingredients and allergen information for each flavour and pack.
School rules determine what you can bring to that school; the product label lists the ingredients and allergens in the pack. One does not replace the other.
Ask for the exact rule and check the snack’s label as well.
The brand’s website describes an unsalted plain variety; a Dutch pack we reviewed contains 235 g.
AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g is an own-brand variety with specific gluten-free and lactose-free claims.
The Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts pack we reviewed contains 250 g.
PLUS Extra Large Peanuts (unsalted) Per Tub 275 g is an unsalted plain variety.
The Dutch product listing describes unsalted peanuts in a 285 g pack.
The Dutch product page lists Trader Joe’s roasted, unsalted peanuts in a 250 g pack.
These Joybuy product picks are peanuts for people who can eat peanuts. None of these products is a peanut-free option; check the other allergen information and the school’s rules too.
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This variety may be suitable if peanuts are allowed and you’re looking for an unsalted addition to lunch.
The product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil; the product may contain cashew nuts.
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This crunchy coated snack may be suitable if peanuts are allowed and the listed ingredients fit your diet.
The product information lists 49% peanuts, gluten from wheat and barley, and soya; it may contain milk, nuts and mustard.
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This variety may be suitable if peanuts are allowed and you’re looking for peanuts in the shell to take with you.
The peanuts are in their shells. The product information lists peanuts and warns that it may contain nuts.
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This roasted variety may be suitable if peanuts are allowed and you’re looking for a snack that, according to the product information, needs no preparation.
The product information lists peanuts as an ingredient; the product contains peanuts.
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These unroasted peanuts may be suitable if peanuts are allowed and you want to prepare them yourself.
The product information describes peanuts with their skins on and roasting as a way to prepare them as a snack. The product contains peanuts.
No. Roasting does not make a peanut product peanut-free. Stichting Voedselallergie states that the peanut allergen remains stable when heated, so don’t rely on roasting as a solution for a peanut allergy.
Check the allergen information on the label and read the ingredients and warnings on the exact pack. The NVWA treats peanuts and nuts as separate allergen categories. The Dutch policy on substantiated precautionary warnings for unintended presence has applied to food businesses since 1 January 2026; this information is not personal dietary advice.
According to the NVWA, the production date matters when the policy is introduced. Subject to certain conditions, pre-packed stock produced earlier may be sold after 1 January 2026, provided the food is safe. So the date alone does not mean that every pack will have the same wording.
Store peanuts in a dry, tightly sealed container and follow the instructions on the packaging. The Voedingscentrum recommends storing nuts in a sealed container in a dry place; storage does not remove allergens.
Use the label on the pack you actually have and ask the retailer or manufacturer for clarification before using the product as part of a specific diet. Ingredients and allergen information can vary between varieties.
