First, compare the total fat content per 100 g and the ingredients of the specific variant. Sweet chestnuts may be a good fit if a lower fat content is your priority; ordinary cashews and dry-roasted nut mixes are not low in fat simply because they’re unsalted or made without added fat. Also check that the exact variant fits your vegan shop, and bear in mind that chestnuts are a different kind of snack with different storage requirements.
You want to limit the total fat content of a vegan snack and understand the difference between low-fat and made without added fat. The European Commission defines ‘low fat’ for solid foods as no more than 3 g of fat per 100 g.
You want to know whether the exact nut variant fits your vegan shop, including when herbs, oil or other ingredients have been added. Information about another variant doesn’t automatically apply to the pack you’re buying.
You want to keep eating ordinary nuts while paying attention to portion size, ingredients and storage. A lower fat content doesn’t have to be your only consideration. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing nuts in a well-sealed container in a dry place.
Start with the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack you want to buy. A description of how a product is made doesn’t automatically tell you how much fat the finished product contains.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Total fat | Compare the fat content per 100 g. ‘No added fat’ doesn’t tell you how much fat the product naturally contains. | If a lower total fat content is your main consideration, start with the nutrition table. Around 36% of consumers prioritise total fat. |
| Vegan ingredients | Read the ingredients and vegan information for the exact variant, not just the brand name or product range. | If you want to know whether this particular flavour and pack fit your vegan shop, check the label on that variant. Around 29% of consumers prioritise ingredients. |
| Portion size | Consider how much you eat alongside the nutritional values per 100 g. A smaller portion doesn’t change the composition per 100 g. | If you want to keep eating ordinary nuts and mainly adjust the amount you eat, portion size is a separate consideration. Around 21% of consumers prioritise portion control. |
| Storage and packaging | Choose an amount that suits how you use the product and follow the storage instructions. Fresh chestnuts need different planning from dried nuts. | If you want to use a pack in time and avoid waste, consider the amount and how long it can be stored. Around 14% of consumers prioritise storage and using up the pack. |
The table helps you distinguish between different shopping priorities. The nutritional values in this article are product-specific figures per 100 g; don’t compare them with a portion weight as if they were measured on the same basis.
The product information for the Duyvis Oven roasted nut mix we looked at says no fat or oil has been added, but also lists 47 g of fat per 100 g. How a product is made and its total fat content are two different things.
Compare the total fat per 100 g in the nutrition table, and don’t treat a preparation description as a nutrition claim.
The AH and Jumbo cashews we looked at are unsalted and list sunflower oil. The PLUS unsalted, unroasted cashews we looked at list cashews as their only ingredient.
Read the ingredients list for the exact variant if you want to avoid oil or other additions.
Vegan ingredients and information about nut or peanut allergens answer different questions. Vegan information doesn’t automatically mean a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
If you have a relevant allergy, check the allergen information and warnings on the specific pack separately.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, fresh chestnuts spoil more quickly than most other nuts. They therefore need different planning for use and storage.
Choose an amount that suits when you plan to use them, and follow the product’s storage instructions.
Worth considering for ready-to-eat savoury nut snacks, including the 125 g Oven roasted nut mix we looked at.
The product information we looked at covers cashews and sweet chestnuts: two products with different compositions and uses.
The product information we looked at is for unsalted cashews in a 200 g pack.
Lidl describes Alesto as a range that includes nuts and dried fruit.
The ALDI nut mix we looked at is described as an unsalted mix of almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
The examples we looked at are unsalted, unroasted cashews and the Duyvis Oven roasted nut mix.
This selection focuses on chestnut products with a stated fat content per 100 g. For vegan use, check the ingredients and vegan information for the exact variant.
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A good fit if you’re comparing fat content per 100 g; the product information describes the chestnuts as vegan and ready to eat.
The nutrition table lists 1.4 g of fat per 100 g. The pack contains 125 g.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat snack in individual packs; check the ingredients if vegan suitability is important to you.
The nutrition table lists 1.5 g of fat per 100 g. The product information lists chestnut kernels as the only ingredient and advises eating the contents straight after opening.
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A good fit if you’re looking for ready-to-eat chestnut kernels; check the ingredients and vegan information on the pack before choosing.
The nutrition table lists 0.0 g of fat per 100 g, and chestnuts are the only ingredient listed. According to the product information, the kernels should be eaten straight after opening.
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A good fit if you’re looking for ready-to-eat chestnuts in individual sachets; check the pack for vegan information before choosing.
The nutrition table lists 1.7 g of fat per 100 g. The ingredients list shows chestnuts as the only ingredient; the product information describes them as peeled and ready to eat.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a ready-to-eat chestnut snack; check the ingredients and vegan information on the exact pack.
The nutrition table lists 1.2 g of fat per 100 g. The ingredients list shows chestnuts and sugar; the product information describes the chestnuts as steamed and pre-cut.
For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 3 g of fat per 100 g for a product to make a ‘low fat’ claim. Compare that figure with the nutrition table for the specific variant; it isn’t advice to choose all nuts below that limit.
No. The AH and Jumbo cashews we looked at are unsalted but list sunflower oil. The PLUS unsalted, unroasted cashews we looked at list cashews as their only ingredient. Read the ingredients list for the variant you’re buying.
No. Vegan information doesn’t answer whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy. The NVWA explains the rules for allergen information on labels; check the ingredients and warnings on the specific pack before choosing.
AH’s product instructions say to carefully score a cross into each chestnut and roast them on a baking tray in an oven at 200 °C for 15–20 minutes. Leave them to cool briefly, then peel them. These instructions apply to that product, not to all chestnut products.
Store dried nuts in a well-sealed container in a dry place; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping them somewhere cool. Fresh chestnuts spoil more quickly. Follow the product-specific storage instructions for the pack you buy.
