Is Salted Cashews Halves & Pieces Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When determining if a snack is safe for a gluten-free diet, we look for the absence of wheat, barley, rye, and hidden derivatives like malt or brewer's yeast. The ingredient list for Salted Cashews Halves & Pieces is remarkably transparent, consisting of cashews, vegetable oil, and salt.

The star ingredient, cashews, are naturally gluten-free legumes (technically seeds). As long as they haven't been processed on shared equipment with wheat products—which is rare for whole nut processing—they remain safe. The vegetable oil blend (peanut, cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, and/or rice bran oil) is also inherently free of gluten. While rice bran oil is listed, it is extracted from the outer hull of the rice grain, not the starchy endosperm where gluten proteins reside, making it perfectly safe.

Finally, salt is a mineral and contains no gluten. There are no flavor enhancers, yeast extracts, or hydrolyzed wheat proteins often found in savory snacks that would trigger a gluten reaction. Therefore, from a strictly chemical composition standpoint, this product is gluten-free.

Nutritional Value

Cashews are energy-dense, meaning they pack a significant caloric punch in a small serving. A standard serving typically contains around 160 calories, derived primarily from fat (mostly heart-healthy monounsaturated fats) and a modest amount of protein. Unlike many processed snacks, these cashews contain 0 grams of sugar, which is excellent for those monitoring blood glucose levels or following a low-sugar diet.

However, because they are salted, the sodium content is something to watch. While not excessive, those on strict low-sodium diets for hypertension should consume them in moderation. The lack of carbohydrates makes them a popular choice for Keto and low-carb dieters, fitting well within daily macronutrient limits as a satiating fat source.