You need to avoid peanuts
If you have a peanut allergy, peanuts themselves aren’t a suitable snack. Stichting Voedselallergie identifies peanuts as an allergen.
Who is this guide for?
You’re looking for a snack without a specific ingredient
If you can eat peanuts but need to avoid another ingredient, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. Lactose intolerance and milk protein allergy are not the same thing, as the Voedingscentrum explains.
You regularly take a snack with you
If you can eat peanuts and want an unsalted snack that you can portion yourself, compare the packaging and follow the storage instructions. Check whether it suits your diet separately.
What should you look for when buying?
The NVWA states that allergen information must be available before purchase. So, if you’re buying a snack from your university canteen, ask for the exact product and its accompanying information.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding peanuts | Don’t choose a peanut product; check the ingredients and peanut warnings for any alternative. | If I need to avoid peanuts, a peanut snack isn’t an option for my lunch. Around 29% of consumers put avoiding peanuts first. |
| Avoiding another ingredient | Check the ingredients and relevant allergen information; distinguish lactose intolerance from a milk allergy. | If I can eat peanuts but need to avoid another ingredient, I want to check the exact product. Around 29% of consumers put avoiding another specific ingredient first. |
| A snack from the canteen | Before buying, ask which product is being served and request its allergen information. | When I buy a snack from the canteen, I want to know exactly which product is being served. Around 24% of consumers prioritise clear information about the products served in the canteen. |
| Portion and storage | Compare the pack size with the portion you want and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | For a snack I take with me every day, I want to measure out the amount and store the packaging properly. Around 18% of consumers put portion size and storage first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming lactose-free means free from milk proteins
Lactose intolerance is related to milk sugar; a milk allergy is related to milk proteins. So, a lactose-free label doesn’t automatically tell you whether a snack is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Choose based on the ingredient you need to avoid and check the product information accordingly.
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Relying on the snack’s name alone
A general name on the menu doesn’t tell you which product the canteen is serving. The NVWA states that consumers must be able to access allergen information before buying.
Ask for the exact product and its allergen information before choosing your snack.
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Counting a whole pack as one lunch portion
The contents of a pack aren’t the same as a portion. The Jumbo pack used here as an example contains 250 g; the Voedingscentrum uses 25 g as a generic handful of unsalted peanuts in its calorie checker. This isn’t individual portion advice.
Measure out the amount you want to take with you and compare nutritional information for the same quantity.
Brands and shops for reference
Duyvis
The range includes unsalted peanuts and several preparations, including marinated and coated varieties.
- The manufacturer describes both an unsalted option and a range of product types.
- This information doesn’t confirm that a product is free from a particular ingredient or suitable for someone with an allergy.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists an own-brand product called AH Unsalted Peanuts.
- The product page confirms this variety.
- Albert Heijn advises customers to check the packaging, as ingredients and allergy information may change. Unsalted doesn’t mean the product is free from other ingredients.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a 250 g own-brand pack of Unsalted Peanuts.
- The product name and pack size are listed by Jumbo.
- The packaging or brand name alone doesn’t confirm whether the product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists 285 g of unsalted peanuts as a shop product.
- The product listing specifies the unsalted variety and pack size.
- A shop listing doesn’t confirm stock at a specific branch or that the product is free from a particular ingredient.
ALDI
An ALDI product listing features 250 g of Trader Joe’s peanuts, roasted and unsalted.
- The product listing confirms the stated variety and pack size.
- ALDI is the shop in this case; Trader Joe’s is the product brand listed. This information isn’t an independent assessment of product quality or allergy suitability.
PLUS
PLUS lists Extra Large Peanuts (unsalted) in a 275 g tub.
- The product information specifies the unsalted variety and tub packaging.
- The size doesn’t confirm that the product is suitable for a specific dietary restriction; check the packaging.
Peanut products at Joybuy
This selection includes peanut products for people who can eat peanuts: unsalted varieties and peanuts in their shells.
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g’woon Unsalted Peanuts - 250g
For people who can eat peanuts and are looking for an unsalted lunch snack.
The ingredients information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil; the product may contain cashews.
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Verse Extra Large Roasted Peanuts - 210 g
For people who can eat peanuts and are looking for a roasted, unsalted variety.
The description lists 100% peanuts and recommends sealing the pack tightly after opening.
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G’woon Peanuts in Shell - 500 g
For people who can eat peanuts and want to take a snack in its shell with them.
The product information lists peanuts and possible traces of nuts. Seal the pack tightly after opening and store in a cool, dry place.
Frequently asked questions
Can the canteen provide allergen information verbally?
Yes. According to the NVWA, information about unpackaged products can be given verbally. There must be a notice somewhere telling customers they can ask for it, and you must be able to get the information before buying.
Does lactose-free mean suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No. Lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar, while cow’s milk allergy relates to milk proteins, as the Voedingscentrum explains. So a lactose-free label alone doesn’t tell you whether a snack is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Are the Dutch rules on allergen warnings already in force?
Yes, the new Dutch rules have been in force since 1 January 2026. According to the NVWA, the production date determines whether the rules apply to stock packaged earlier: it may still be sold as long as the food is safe. An older warning label doesn’t, by itself, prove that the rules have been broken.
What should I do if I have an AH tub of salted peanuts with a best-before date of 4 November 2026?
Don’t eat the AH Extra Large Salted Peanuts (tub) with this best-before date. Albert Heijn’s warning concerns possible metal fragments; according to the notice, products with other best-before dates aren’t affected. This doesn’t automatically apply to AH Unsalted Peanuts.
How should I store an opened pack of peanuts?
Follow the instructions on the packaging for your product. For salted peanuts, the Voedingscentrum recommends a cool, dark and dry place and a tightly sealed container; don’t automatically apply this advice to other varieties.