Don’t pack peanuts for your child if they need to avoid them; a gluten-free or lactose-free claim doesn’t change that. If peanuts are suitable for their diet and comply with the school’s rules, check the specific claim and the full allergen information for the exact variant. Also consider possible traces of tree nuts and the choking risk posed by whole peanuts.
If peanuts need to be avoided, they don’t belong in your child’s lunch, regardless of any other dietary claims. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) says that allergen information for pre-packed products is shown on the label. Check the information for the allergen your child needs to avoid.
Ask which products and warnings are covered by the rules for your child’s class or school. For example, OBS De Venen outlines rules for certain infant classes; these don’t automatically apply to every school.
A specific claim may be relevant if peanuts are suitable for your child’s diet and allowed under the school rules. Check the exact variant, and don’t confuse lactose-free with suitable for someone with a cow’s milk protein allergy.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding the right allergen | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging. Make sure the claim relates to the allergen your child needs to avoid. | If I need to avoid a specific allergen, that comes before taste or packaging. Around 28% of consumers put avoiding the relevant allergen first. |
| Following school rules | Ask whether the rules apply to the class or the whole school, and how warnings about possible traces are handled. | If the school has rules about peanuts or nuts, I want to know exactly what my child can bring in. Around 22% of consumers prioritise what’s allowed at school. |
| The specific dietary claim | Check the exact variant and packaging; lactose-free doesn’t automatically mean suitable for someone with a cow’s milk protein allergy. | If I avoid gluten or lactose and peanuts are suitable for me, I look for the claim that matches my dietary needs. This is the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Everyday ingredients | Check whether the variant is unsalted and read the ingredients; unsalted doesn’t mean allergen-free. | Once dietary needs and school rules are taken care of, the ingredients can also influence my everyday lunch choice. Around 17% of consumers put nutritional quality first. |
| How they’re eaten and stored | Consider whether whole peanuts are suitable for your child’s eating skills, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If I’m looking for a suitable texture and something practical, I also want to know how the snack should be eaten and stored. Around 11% of consumers prioritise these points. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that whole peanuts can pose a choking risk. The way the food is served and the eating occasion are therefore separate considerations, regardless of the ingredients or dietary claims.
AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free, but contains peanuts and may contain various types of nuts.
Match each claim to the dietary need it relates to, and check the full allergen information on the exact packaging.
Peanuts and tree nuts are listed as separate allergens in allergen information. A rule about one category doesn’t automatically tell you what applies to the other, or to possible traces.
Ask the school which products and warnings are covered by its rules.
Unsalted describes the ingredients; whole peanuts can pose a choking risk. A product’s size doesn’t prove that it’s suitable to eat.
Consider the way the food is served and the eating occasion separately, and follow any warnings on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking care to prevent choking on whole peanuts.
The dietary claims listed for AH Unsalted Peanuts apply to the 300 g variant that was checked. Product information can change.
Check the variant and the packaging you receive before choosing the product; Albert Heijn also advises customers to read the packaging.
The unsalted variant is worth considering if peanuts are suitable for your child’s diet and allowed under the school rules.
AH Unsalted Peanuts 300 g may suit anyone specifically looking for a gluten-free or lactose-free option who can eat peanuts.
Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts 250 g is a specific unsalted option if peanuts are suitable for your child’s diet and allowed under the school rules.
The Lidl variant listed is an unsalted 285 g product.
The Trader Joe’s variant listed at ALDI is a roasted, unsalted peanut option if peanuts are suitable.
PLUS Extra Large Peanuts (unsalted), 275 g per tub, may suit anyone looking for an unsalted option in a tub.
These products include unsalted peanuts, a granola variant with peanuts, and snacks that don’t contain peanuts. The right choice depends on the allergen that needs to be avoided, the school rules and the information on the exact packaging.
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A suitable unsalted option if peanuts are allowed under your child’s diet and the school rules.
The product description lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil; the product may contain cashews.
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May suit a gluten-free diet if peanuts are allowed under your child’s diet and the school rules.
The product description lists gluten-free oats, 9% peanut butter and 4% peanuts. It also mentions possible traces of almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans and soya; check the packaging.
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A snack without peanuts if you’re looking for an alternative; the school rules and relevant allergens still matter.
The product description lists peas, vegetable oil, maize flour, rice and starch. The ‘Allergen: None’ statement is a product claim; check the latest allergen information on the packaging.
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An alternative without peanuts; check whether the product suits your child’s diet and the school rules.
The product description lists 98% okra and 2% rice bran oil, and describes the product as gluten-free. Check the allergen information on the exact packaging.
No. Botanically, peanuts are legumes, and peanuts and tree nuts are listed separately in allergen information. Check both entries: ‘nut-free’ doesn’t necessarily mean a product contains no peanuts.
Not on the basis of that claim alone. Lactose is milk sugar, and a lactose-free product may still contain milk protein. Check the information relevant to the allergy.
Rules vary between schools and may also vary between classes. Ask the school which products and warnings about traces are covered by its rules. For example, OBS De Venen outlines rules for infant classes, but that example doesn’t automatically apply elsewhere.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that whole peanuts can pose a choking risk. Consider the way the food is served and the eating occasion separately, and take account of the warning on the packaging.
The gluten-free and lactose-free claims listed apply to the 300 g variant that was checked. Check the exact variant and read the packaging, as product information can change.
