Cashews
Cashews suppliers and sourcing guide
Cashews are the kernels of Anacardium occidentale, grown mainly in West Africa, India and Vietnam. The raw nut is steamed or roasted to open the shell, which contains a caustic liquid, then shelled and peeled of its thin skin, dried and graded. Kernels are sold by grade, such as W240 or W320 for whole white kernels by count per pound, and as splits, pieces, butts, roasted kernels, cashew flour or cashew butter.
- Category
- Food staples and powders
- Also known as
- Anacardium occidentale · cashew kernels · cashew nut
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of cashews
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Whole kernels
Graded by color (white, scorched) and count per pound, for example W180, W240 and W320, for snacks and inclusions.
Splits, butts and pieces
Broken kernels at lower cost for bars, sauces, plant-based dairy and baking.
Roasted
Dry- or oil-roasted kernels, plain or seasoned, for snacks.
Cashew flour and butter
Ground kernels used in baking, dairy-free cheese and spreads.
Organic
Certified organic kernels, with origin and processing country stated.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Grade and defects
- Count per pound, color, broken kernels, spotted or immature kernels and residual skin against the grade (often AFI specifications).
- Moisture
- Loss on drying; kernels are dried after peeling and should stay low for storage.
- Oil quality
- Peroxide value and free fatty acids, as checks on rancidity.
- Aflatoxins
- Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins by HPLC or LC-MS/MS.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms or Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and Salmonella; low-moisture foods that are eaten without a cooking step need a negative Salmonella result per lot.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Kernels are usually packed in vacuum or nitrogen-flushed tins or bags and should be kept cool and dry; once opened, protect from moisture, odors and insects. Shelf life is set by the packer's specification, and older stock is retested for odor, peroxide value and insects.
Lots and expiry dates
Grade, color and broken-kernel content vary between packers and origins, so record grade, origin and packer code per lot. Rotate first in, first out and keep micro and aflatoxin results on file.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
FDA's food allergen guidance (Edition 5) lists cashew (Anacardium occidentale) in its table of tree nuts that FDA considers major food allergens.
Source: fda.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 164.110, the standard for mixed nuts, names cashews among the optional shelled tree nut ingredients.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists cashew nut powder (Anacardium occidentale seed) as a non-medicinal ingredient with the purposes diluent, filler and flavour enhancer.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Cashews suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking cashews suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell cashews? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of cashews can brands buy?
Common forms include whole kernels, splits, butts and pieces, roasted, cashew flour and butter and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for cashews include?
Expect grade and defects, moisture, oil quality, aflatoxins and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should cashews be stored?
Kernels are usually packed in vacuum or nitrogen-flushed tins or bags and should be kept cool and dry; once opened, protect from moisture, odors and insects. Shelf life is set by the packer's specification, and older stock is retested for odor, peroxide value and insects.
What is the regulatory status of cashews?
FDA's food allergen guidance (Edition 5) lists cashew (Anacardium occidentale) in its table of tree nuts that FDA considers major food allergens. 21 CFR 164.110, the standard for mixed nuts, names cashews among the optional shelled tree nut ingredients. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists cashew nut powder (Anacardium occidentale seed) as a non-medicinal ingredient with the purposes diluent, filler and flavour enhancer.
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