Who is this choice relevant to?

Marathon runner with coeliac disease

Your priority is a verifiable gluten-free label on the exact product packaging. The product name or where a biscuit sits on the shelf isn’t enough.

Long-distance runner trying out fuel during training

You’re looking for something suitable for a long, intense run. As well as checking that it’s gluten-free, consider the carbohydrates per portion, when you’ll eat it and how well you tolerate food and drink while running.

Runner looking for a gluten-free biscuit

You want a biscuit before or after training. In that case, you can choose a gluten-free alternative without automatically treating it as fuel for your run.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you need a strictly gluten-free option and when you want to eat it: as a snack or during a long training session. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information for the specific product.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important for?
Gluten-free label Check the exact packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ label, as well as the ingredients and allergen information. Check again if you’re buying a different variety or pack. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the name ‘canoe biscuit’ or how products are arranged on the shelves. Around 46% of consumers prioritise being able to verify that a product is gluten-free.
Fuel during your run Compare the carbohydrates per portion and portion size; try the product with your usual drink during training. For a long, intense run, I want to know what I can eat and tolerate on the go. For around 36% of consumers, this is their top priority when buying.
A biscuit around your training Check that the biscuit you choose is labelled gluten-free and look at the nutritional information per portion for the occasion you have in mind. If I’m mainly looking for something to eat before or after a run, it doesn’t need to be fuel for the journey. Around 18% of consumers prioritise having a gluten-free biscuit.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a canoe biscuit or a biscuit from the gluten-free aisle without checking the label

    The name and where a product appears in the range don’t tell you whether that exact variety is gluten-free. Albert Heijn warns that the ingredients and allergen information for AH BASIC Kano’s may change.

    If you have coeliac disease, choose a variety whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ and check the allergen information too.

  • Assuming a gluten-free biscuit is automatically suitable fuel for your run

    A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates a portion contains or how well you’ll tolerate the product while running. Voedingscentrum lists sports bars and sports gels as possible options for prolonged, intense exercise; according to TopsportTopics.nl, a high carbohydrate intake during a run can cause gastrointestinal problems.

    First decide when you’ll eat it, then try your chosen food and drink during training—not for the first time on marathon day.

  • Checking only the gluten-free label

    A gluten-free label doesn’t answer questions about other ingredients or allergens that may be relevant to you. The NVWA emphasises that allergens must be clearly listed on the label.

    Read the full ingredients list and the allergens listed on the product you’re actually buying.

  • Assuming the online range means a product is always available

    A range page can help you search, but it doesn’t tell you whether a particular biscuit is available at your local shop or whether the packaging has changed.

    Before buying, check the specific product and local availability, then check the current packaging.

Brands to consider

Verkade

Verkade labels its Oaties biscuits as gluten-free; Albert Heijn also lists Verkade gluten-free plain Oaties.

  • A clearly labelled gluten-free biscuit alternative for an everyday snack.
  • The Oaties label doesn’t automatically apply to other Verkade biscuits or canoe biscuits. Check the variety you choose.

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn has a dedicated section for gluten-free products.

  • A starting point for finding products that are individually labelled gluten-free.
  • The range doesn’t confirm that AH BASIC Kano’s are gluten-free; check the packaging of the item you choose.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo lists a range of products under this label, including gluten-free speculaas, mini cakes, syrup waffles and digestive biscuits.

  • Several named biscuit options to compare for a gluten-free snack.
  • The product range alone doesn’t tell you whether a portion is suitable to eat while running.

PLUS

PLUS lists gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and has a gluten-free range page.

  • A specifically labelled biscuit product, as well as a broader way to browse the range.
  • For the product you choose, also check for other allergens, ingredients and nutritional information.

ALDI

ALDI lists individual products including gluten-free coconut macaroons and rice biscuits.

  • Specific biscuit alternatives to assess using their own packaging.
  • The fact that some products are gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean that other biscuits or canoe biscuits in the range are gluten-free.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are ordinary canoe biscuits automatically gluten-free?

No. The name ‘canoe biscuit’ doesn’t confirm that a product is gluten-free. For AH BASIC Kano’s, Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging because product information can change. If you have coeliac disease, check that the exact packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’.

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean in the Netherlands?

Under EU Implementing Regulation 828/2014, a food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if the product sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the label on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Is a gluten-free biscuit suitable during a long marathon training run?

A gluten-free biscuit can be part of what you eat around your training, but the label alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s practical to eat while running. Compare the carbohydrates per portion and try your food and drink during training beforehand. Voedingscentrum lists sports bars and sports gels as possible options for prolonged, intense exercise.

What should you look for in a gluten-free biscuit containing oats?

If you have coeliac disease, check the packaging to make sure the specific oat product is suitable for a gluten-free diet. Voedingscentrum warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten-containing grains and points people with coeliac disease to the official Crossed Grain certification mark.