Vegan shoppers who need to avoid an allergen
You’re looking for a plant-based snack and also need to watch out for a specific allergen. Ingredients and warnings about possible cross-contamination are separate things to check.
Who is this guide for?
Vegan shoppers looking for a free-from option
You might be looking for a gluten-free or lactose-free option, for example, and don’t want to assume that a vegan label guarantees those properties too. Albert Heijn lists these claims separately for the AH Unsalted Mixed Nuts product reviewed.
Everyday plant-based snackers
You’re looking for unsalted nuts to snack on and want to choose a pack that suits how often and how much you eat. Check the ingredients and storage advice on the specific pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you’re looking for vegan nuts that also meet another dietary requirement, start by checking the exact ingredients and information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and cross-contamination | Check which nuts or peanuts are listed as ingredients, and read the warning about possible presence too. | If you need to avoid a specific allergen, check both the ingredients and the warnings. Around 29% of consumers would make this their top priority when buying. |
| Ingredients in flavoured varieties | Check the full ingredients list and any vegan claim for the flavour you’ve chosen. | If vegan ingredients are your priority, don’t rely on the product category or flavour name. Around 23% of consumers would want to rule out animal-derived ingredients first. |
| Gluten-free | Look for a gluten-free claim on the exact pack and check the ingredients in any coatings too. | If avoiding gluten is your main requirement, look for a suitable claim on the product itself. Around 18% of consumers would make gluten-free their top selection criterion. |
| Unsalted options | Check the product description, ingredients and nutrition table; only compare values on the same basis. | If you’re mainly looking for unsalted nuts to snack on regularly, the contents of the pack you choose matter. Around 18% of consumers would prioritise unsalted options. |
| Quantity and storage | Check the net weight and follow the storage instructions after opening. | If your usage determines how much you buy, choose a quantity that suits your routine and storage needs. Around 12% of consumers would make packaging and storage their top buying priority. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing vegan with allergen-free
A vegan label tells you about the ingredients used, but it doesn’t mean a product is free from allergens or warnings about possible cross-contamination. Nuts and peanuts are allergens in their own right.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. Be clear about the specific free-from requirement you’re looking for.
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Assuming every savoury party nut flavour is suitable for the same diets
The Duyvis Cocktail variety reviewed contains lactose from milk and wheat. The Provençale pack reviewed contains wheat and states that it may contain milk.
Read the ingredients and warnings for each flavour and pack. A savoury-sounding or plant-based-sounding name doesn’t tell you whether it meets a dietary requirement.
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Assuming that no peanut ingredient means a product is peanut-free
The PLUS Mixed Nuts product reviewed does not list peanuts as an ingredient, but it does state that it may contain peanuts.
Read the warning below the ingredients list too. A product that doesn’t list peanuts as an ingredient isn’t automatically suitable if you need to avoid peanuts.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
Worth considering for plain peanuts and seasoned party nuts; the exact variety makes a difference when checking whether it suits your diet.
- PLUS lists the Duyvis peanuts reviewed as vegan.
- The Cocktail variety contains lactose from milk and wheat. Check each flavour separately.
Albert Heijn
The AH Unsalted Mixed Nuts 500 g product reviewed has separate dietary claims on its product page.
- The pack is listed as vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
- The mix contains tree nuts and may contain peanuts and other types of nuts; these dietary claims do not make it suitable for every allergy.
Jumbo
The own-brand mix reviewed is an unsalted option with a detailed ingredients list.
- The ingredients list includes peanuts, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts and hazelnuts, as well as sunflower oil.
- An ingredients list with no animal-derived ingredients is not, by itself, an independent vegan claim.
Lidl
Alesto is the brand name Lidl uses for nuts and snacks.
- The brand page lists nuts, dried fruit and party snacks as product categories.
- Check whether a product suits your diet using the information on the specific pack, not the brand name.
ALDI
The Trader Joe’s product description lists a 500 g unsalted nut mix.
- The description lists almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
- The product description is not a general guarantee that it is vegan, gluten-free or allergen-free.
PLUS
The PLUS products reviewed include a nut mix labelled vegan and unsalted Duyvis peanuts.
- The 500 g PLUS nut mix lists walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.
- The mix warns that it may contain peanuts and other nuts; read this warning alongside the vegan claim.
Nut products at Joybuy
These Joybuy product picks are suited to nut snacks where the type of nut, an unsalted option or the pack format may influence your choice. Check the current ingredients and dietary and allergen information on the packaging yourself.
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Be&Cheery Paper-shell Walnuts 128g
This may suit you if you’re looking for walnuts to crack yourself; only choose this product if walnuts fit your diet.
The product information lists walnuts and says they are in their shells.
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g'woon Unsalted Peanuts 250g
This may suit you if you’re looking for unsalted peanuts and can eat peanuts; check the warning about possible cashews.
The product information lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil. The product is labelled unsalted.
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Anatolia Badem Natural Almonds 500 g
This may suit you if you’re looking for almonds to snack on or use in cooking; check that almonds fit your diet.
The product information lists 100% almonds and no added salt.
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g'woon Cashew Nuts Roasted & Unsalted 200g
This may suit you if you’re looking for roasted, unsalted cashews; check the current pack for dietary and allergen information.
The product information lists cashews as an ingredient and suggests enjoying them as a snack or using them in cooking.
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g'woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts 500g
This may suit you if you’re looking for an unroasted, unsalted mix; also read the warning about possible traces of peanuts and other nuts.
The product information lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews.
Frequently asked questions
Does vegan mean a product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy?
No. A vegan label is not an allergen declaration. The Dutch Vegetarian Association emphasises that the V-Label does not replace allergen information, so check the product’s ingredients and warnings.
Are lactose-free and suitable for someone with a milk allergy the same thing?
No, treat these as two different requirements when buying. If you need to avoid milk, check the full ingredients list and allergen information; a lactose-free claim on its own is not a general guarantee that milk has been excluded.
What cross-contamination warnings apply in the Netherlands?
Since 1 January 2026, new rules for precautionary allergen labelling have applied in the Netherlands, and the NVWA monitors compliance. The permitted warnings are ‘May contain X’ and ‘Not suitable for people with an X allergy’; they must be based on a risk assessment.
How should you store an opened bag of nuts?
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the Duyvis peanuts reviewed, the advice is to store them in a cool, dry place and, preferably, put an opened bag in a light- and airtight container.
Can I assume every flavour from a brand meets the same dietary requirements?
No, check each flavour and pack separately. The Duyvis Cocktail variety reviewed contains lactose from milk and wheat, while other products may have different ingredients and warnings.