Which biscuits are right for you?

If you’re specifically looking for a chocolate coating

A gluten-free biscuit with milk chocolate isn’t necessarily chocolate-coated. Check that the packaging confirms a coating or layer as well as stating that it’s gluten-free.

If chocolate chips are enough for you

AH Glutenvrij and Céréal gluten-free biscuits, as well as gluten-free Twix cookies, are described as containing chocolate chips. Compare them if a coating isn’t essential.

If you need to watch out for other allergens

Gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean free from milk, soya, nuts or other allergens. Check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces for each product.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking for a gluten-free label and reading the current packaging. Then decide whether a chocolate coating is essential, and consider any other ingredients or practical requirements that matter to you.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free label Check the ‘gluten-free’ label and any warnings about cereals containing gluten on the current packaging. If I have coeliac disease, I first need to be sure the biscuit is sold as gluten-free. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Chocolate coating or chips If you want a coating, look for an explicit description of a layer or coating; ‘choc’ on its own doesn’t confirm this. I’m looking for a biscuit with a chocolate coating, not a cookie with chocolate chips in it. This type of product is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Other allergens Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings for milk, soya, nuts and eggs, among other things; lactose-free doesn’t mean milk-free. As well as gluten, I need to take another ingredient or allergen into account. This additional check matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Availability Check that the exact variety you want is available at your supermarket, and read the label again when you buy it in future. I want to be able to find the same suitable biscuit at my usual supermarket. Availability is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘with chocolate’ means ‘chocolate-coated’

    Jumbo Lekker Vrij and Schär list milk chocolate in their gluten-free digestives. AH Glutenvrij, Céréal and Twix mention chocolate chips. None of these descriptions, on its own, confirms a coating.

    If a coating is essential, check whether the current packaging explicitly describes the product as coated.

  • Confusing a suitable chocolate coating with a suitable biscuit

    Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Belgian Chocolate is described as speculoos with a chocolate coating, but it contains wheat flour and is labelled as containing cereals with gluten.

    If you have coeliac disease, prioritise the ingredients and gluten-free labelling over the type of chocolate coating you want.

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from other allergens’

    The gluten-free biscuits mentioned here vary in their other ingredients and allergens. For example, Jumbo Lekker Vrij and Schär contain milk and soya.

    For each variety, also check the other allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging.

  • Assuming the range is the same as last time

    A temporary range or a change to a product variety can make your next purchase different from the last one.

    Check the exact product name and packaging at your supermarket just before buying.

Brands to compare

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo describes its 165 g Digestives Milk Chocolate as gluten-free digestive biscuits with milk chocolate.

  • Jumbo lists 29% milk chocolate and the Crossed Grain symbol for this product.
  • The product contains milk, soya and oats; the description doesn’t confirm a chocolate coating.

Schär

Albert Heijn describes Schär Digestive Choc, 150 g, as gluten-free biscuits with milk chocolate.

  • A digestive to compare if milk chocolate matters more to you than a confirmed coating.
  • Contains milk and soya and may contain egg and lupin; the description doesn’t confirm a chocolate coating.

AH Glutenvrij

The Chocolate chip cookies are described as gluten-free biscuits with milk chocolate chips and hazelnuts.

  • An option to compare if chocolate chips meet your requirements.
  • These aren’t chocolate-coated biscuits; they contain milk, egg and hazelnuts.

Céréal

Jumbo describes the Gluten-free & Lactose-free Chocolate Biscuits as cookies with dark chocolate chips.

  • The product description states that they’re both gluten-free and lactose-free.
  • They contain chocolate chips, not a confirmed chocolate coating; possible traces of milk, nuts, sesame and lupin, among other things, are listed.

Lotus Biscoff

Albert Heijn describes Speculoos Belgian Chocolate as a speculoos biscuit with a layer of Belgian chocolate.

  • The description makes it clear what is meant by a chocolate coating.
  • It contains wheat flour and cereals containing gluten, so it isn’t suitable for people with coeliac disease.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a biscuit with a chocolate coating suitable for coeliac disease?

Not just because it has a chocolate coating. According to Albert Heijn, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Belgian Chocolate has one, but it contains wheat flour and cereals containing gluten. For any other biscuit, check the gluten-free label and the current packaging.

What should I look for if a gluten-free biscuit contains oats?

Check that the finished product is labelled gluten-free rather than relying on the word ‘oats’ alone. Also read the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.

Are gluten-free chocolate biscuits also milk-free?

No, ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that. Jumbo Lekker Vrij Digestives Milk Chocolate and Schär Digestive Choc contain milk and soya; check the allergen information for each variety separately.

What should I do if there’s a warning about cereals containing gluten?

Take the warning into account when making your choice, even if you’ve bought the product before. The Dutch Coeliac Society notes that statements such as ‘may contain cereals containing gluten’ indicate a possible risk of cross-contamination.

What does the Crossed Grain symbol tell me?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, it’s a recognised symbol for gluten-free products. You should also check the gluten-free label, ingredients and warnings on the packaging of the specific variety.