If you have a peanut allergy or your school has a rule banning peanuts, the peanut snacks described here are not a suitable choice. For other dietary requirements, check the exact flavour and packaging for the specific allergen and any warning about possible cross-contamination. For example, a gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you whether a product is also free from milk or peanuts. Consider the snack separately from the everyday lunch and any school rules.
If you need to avoid peanuts because of an allergy or a relevant school rule, check the ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging. Peanuts and tree nuts are separate allergens; Stichting Voedselallergie explains the difference.
If you avoid gluten, milk, soya or another specific allergen, you need information about the particular variant and possible cross-contamination. The Dutch Coeliac Association makes clear that a gluten-free assessment doesn’t automatically tell you anything about other allergens. Milk allergy and lactose intolerance also need to be assessed differently, as Stichting Voedselallergie explains.
Once you’ve checked that it suits your dietary needs and meets the school’s rules, you can consider how easy it is to pack, the packaging and how to store it. Voedingscentrum describes the school lunch as a separate choice, with products from the Wheel of Five as its foundation.
Start with the allergen you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and precautionary warnings for the same flavour and packaging. Only once you’ve checked these should you consider size and convenience.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Peanuts, tree nuts and school rules | Check peanuts and any relevant tree nuts separately, along with warnings about possible cross-contamination and any applicable school rules. Duyvis describes its peanut snacks as peanuts with a crunchy coating; Jumbo lists peanuts as the base ingredient in its Cocktail variant. | If peanuts aren’t allowed or can’t be eaten, I look for a snack that meets that requirement; around 36% of consumers prioritise avoiding peanuts or complying with school rules. |
| Gluten in the crunchy coating | Check the ingredients and gluten-free information for the exact variant. The Dutch Coeliac Association says that borrel nuts are usually not gluten-free; information about one variant doesn’t prove anything about another. | If I need to avoid gluten, I want the assessment to cover the whole product, not just the peanuts; around 29% of consumers make gluten-free options their top priority. |
| Milk, soya or another allergen | Check the specific allergen in the ingredients and the precautionary warning. For a milk allergy, milk proteins are the concern; a vegetarian label or information about lactose doesn’t answer that question. Stichting Voedselallergie explains the difference between milk allergy and lactose intolerance. | If I need to avoid milk or soya, for example, I want to be able to assess that allergen separately; around 21% of consumers prioritise another specific allergen. |
| Packing and storage | Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Jumbo advises storing its Cocktail variant in a cool, dry, dark place. Voedingscentrum describes lunch as a separate choice from a snack. | Once dietary requirements and school rules have been taken care of, I consider what’s practical to pack and how it needs to be stored; around 14% of consumers prioritise packing and storage. |
A gluten-free assessment relates to gluten. Peanuts, tree nuts and milk need to be checked separately, so one claim won’t answer every dietary question.
First, work out exactly what you need to avoid. Then check the exact flavour and packaging for each relevant allergen and any associated warnings.
For Duyvis Provençale 275 g, Dutch retailer information lists starch from wheat, maize and potatoes. The Dutch Coeliac Association says that borrel nuts are usually not gluten-free.
Read the full ingredients list and check the current gluten-free information and warnings for that exact variant.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn warns that product information may change, so an earlier assessment doesn’t automatically apply to a later pack.
When buying again, check the packaging you actually intend to take with you.
A vegetarian label, such as the one shown for PLUS Borrelnoten Ham Kaas, doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy. A milk allergy involves milk proteins and is different from lactose intolerance.
If milk is the allergen you need to avoid, check milk ingredients and relevant warnings separately.
Duyvis describes its peanut snacks as peanuts with a crunchy coating and offers several flavours.
Albert Heijn sells products including AH Borrelnoten Shanghai; the retailer warns that ingredients and allergen information may change.
For Borrelnoten Cocktail 300 g, Jumbo lists peanuts with a crunchy dough coating.
Lidl is one retailer where you can assess specific borrel nut variants.
ALDI lists borrel nuts under Trader Joe’s, with flavours such as bacon and cheese, poesta or paprika in a 300 g pack.
PLUS sells products including Borrelnoten Ham Kaas 300 g.
Not if they contain peanuts. Peanuts and tree nuts are separate allergens; Stichting Voedselallergie explains the difference. The Duyvis peanut snacks and Jumbo Borrelnoten Cocktail 300 g described here are peanut products.
Not always. The Dutch Coeliac Association explains that a product with a gluten-free claim may contain an ingredient from a gluten-containing grain if the finished product meets the requirements for that claim. This doesn’t prove that the product is suitable for someone with a wheat allergy.
No. A milk allergy is a reaction to milk proteins, whereas lactose intolerance relates to milk sugar. Stichting Voedselallergie therefore advises people with a milk allergy to check for milk ingredients and relevant cross-contamination information, rather than relying on lactose information alone.
Check the ingredients and information about possible cross-contamination on the packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that new Dutch rules for allergen warnings apply from 1 January 2026. Assess the information for the allergen you need to avoid.
Don’t rely on older information as proof that the current packaging is suitable. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information may change. Check the packaging and, if you’re unsure about the specific variant, ask the retailer or manufacturer before deciding whether the product is suitable.
