Frequently Asked Questions
California Walnuts are available from supermarkets, independent stores and health food shops – just remember to check the origin to make sure you’re buying California Walnuts.
California Walnuts are grown on tree in the sunny orchards throughout the Central valley of California.
California Walnuts are available all year round.
There are 206 calories in a 30g handful of walnuts.
To make sure your California Walnuts stay fresh as long as possible, keep them in an airtight container in a cold place and avoid exposing them to warm temperatures for long periods of time. Pop them in the fridge if you plan to use them within a month, or store them away in the freezer if you want to keep them for longer. Remember to keep them away from foods with strong odours, as walnuts can absorb the flavours of other foods. Walnuts can be stored in their original, sealed packaging – but once you open the bag, you should transfer them into an airtight container to maintain freshness.
There is no finite answer to this, but storing your walnuts correctly (see storage tips in these FAQs) will help maintain freshness for as long as possible. If in doubt, use the best-before information on your walnuts’ packaging as a guide.
In a ‘nutshell’, yes. Walnuts are high in heart-healthy unsaturated fats. This is great news, as current UK dietary guidelines recommend the majority of our fat intake is of the unsaturated kind (as opposed to the less healthy saturated kind). A generous 83% of a walnut’s fat content is unsaturated. Walnuts are also a rich source of the essential omega-3 fatty acid ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which can deliver some surprisingly great health benefits.
Read more about good fats on our plant-based eating page.
Yes! We support the position of Diabetes UK, which is that people with diabetes should follow the same healthy eating guidelines as recommended for the general population. This means they should follow a diet that is low in fat (especially low in saturated fat), low in added sugars and salt-containing foods, with meals based on starchy, wholegrain carbohydrates and plenty of fruit and vegetables. California Walnuts can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. For specific advice on making dietary and lifestyle changes to help you manage your diabetes, contact your GP or a healthcare professional (preferably a registered dietitian).
The recommended daily serving of walnuts in the UK is 30g, which is roughly 9 walnut halves.
Visit our health and nutrition page for more information.
The EU has confirmed that ’30 grams of walnuts a day can have a positive effect on the elasticity of the blood vessels and can thus help with keeping the cardiovascular system healthy’.
(EFSA approved health claim / As part of a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle).
Walnuts are naturally low in sugars, with just 2.6g of sugar per 100g of product. Any sugars walnuts do contain are naturally occurring.
You can learn more about what’s in a walnut on the Nutrition page.
In a word, yes! California Walnuts have a mild, creamy and sweet flavour – and it’s all thanks to the unique conditions they’re grown in.
Yes, walnuts are suitable for children, except those with nut allergies. If you have any questions about your child’s diet, please contact your paediatrician or a registered dietitian.
Walnuts contain very small amounts of carbohydrates (3.3g per 100g of product) and have a low glycaemic index (GI) as a result (typically between 0 and 24). This means that they are broken down slowly and release glucose into the bloodstream in a more gradual manner, which is particularly helpful to people with Type 2 diabetes. The glycaemic load for walnuts is also very low (typically 0-1).
Walnuts are packed with wholesome, plant-based goodness great for supporting a healthy diet. They provide all sorts of nutrients that your body needs to function well, including a whole host of vitamins and minerals.
For more information visit the page – Why Walnuts.
No, California-grown walnuts are not genetically modified. We work closely with the University of California’s walnut breeding programme to release new walnut varieties for planting that have been developed through conventional breeding methods.
No. There are three different types of omega-3 fatty acid: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). You’ll find EPA and DHA in cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, whereas ALA is found in plant-based foods, including walnuts.
Read more about good fats on the plant-based foods page.