If you have coeliac disease, choose a biscuit whose exact packaging carries a gluten-free claim; the words ‘spritz’ or ‘digestive’ tell you nothing about that. Albert Heijn lists Schär Digestive Landtaler as a gluten-free digestive, while Verkade Oaties is an oat biscuit alternative if you tolerate gluten-free oats. The regular Verkade Nobo Sprits Melk and ALDI Biscotto Digestive Biscuits described here contain wheat.
You want to choose a classic biscuit without mistaking a regular spritz or digestive for a gluten-free version. The Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights the risk of cross-contamination, so it’s the exact packaging that matters, not just the type of biscuit.
You’re looking for the texture of a digestive, perhaps to crumble it, but need a version with an explicit gluten-free claim. ALDI describes its Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits, so the product name alone doesn’t indicate that they’re gluten-free.
You’d like an oat biscuit as an alternative to a digestive or spritz, and need to check whether that particular biscuit contains gluten-free oats. Even when the oats are confirmed as gluten-free, your personal tolerance of oats is a separate consideration.
If you have coeliac disease, choosing between a spritz, digestive and oat biscuit starts with checking for a gluten-free claim on the exact packaging. You can then decide which type of biscuit and ingredients best suit your preferences.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status | Look for a gluten-free claim on the exact packaging and read the current ingredients and allergen list. | Anyone buying for someone with coeliac disease will want to avoid accidentally choosing a regular wheat version. For around 42% of consumers, confidence in a product’s gluten-free status comes first. |
| Digestive texture | Compare gluten-free digestives by their ingredients and nutritional information; Albert Heijn lists 7.4 g of fibre per 100 g for Schär Digestive Landtaler. | The texture of a digestive may be the deciding factor if you’re having it with tea or using it to make a crumb base. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this preference. |
| Oats as an alternative | Check that the oat biscuit itself carries a gluten-free claim and consider whether oats are right for you. | If you enjoy oat biscuits, you’ll need to consider your own tolerance of oats as well as the gluten-free claim. For around 25% of consumers, choosing oats is the most important preference. |
Spritz and digestive are names for types of biscuit. Verkade lists wheat flour in Nobo Sprits Melk, while ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits.
First, check the packaging of the version you’ve chosen for a gluten-free claim. Only then compare the types of biscuit.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats can come into contact with gluten-containing grains during production and processing. An oat biscuit may also not be a suitable alternative for everyone who reacts to pure oats.
Choose an oat biscuit with a gluten-free claim on the packaging, and bear your own tolerance of oats in mind.
Albert Heijn says that ingredient, nutritional and allergen information can change. The product information for Schär Digestive Landtaler also lists soya and possible traces of egg and lupin.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying, especially if other allergens besides gluten are relevant to you.
The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that cross-contamination can happen after purchase, too. Shared plates or a surface covered in regular biscuit crumbs can be a source of contamination.
Use clean plates and surfaces, and store gluten-free biscuits separately from products containing gluten.
Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for a gluten-free digestive: Albert Heijn lists Schär Digestive Landtaler as a gluten-free biscuit.
Verkade makes different types of biscuit, and you shouldn’t assume they’re all the same just because they share a brand name.
A brand to explore if you’re looking for a gluten-free oat biscuit instead of a classic digestive.
Albert Heijn features a range of biscuits among its gluten-free snacks, including Schär Digestive Landtaler.
An example of why the word ‘digestive’ alone tells you nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Lidl lists regular Digestives, plain; this doesn’t confirm that this version is gluten-free.
Not unless the exact packaging carries a gluten-free claim. Verkade says Nobo Sprits Melk contains wheat flour, and ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as wheat biscuits, so don’t rely on the type of biscuit in the product name.
According to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ must contain less than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check that the label appears on the packaging of the exact version you’re buying.
Check that the oat biscuit you’ve chosen carries a gluten-free claim, and bear your own tolerance of oats in mind. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for the Crossed Grain certification when choosing gluten-free oats.
Store and serve gluten-free biscuits separately from products containing gluten, and use clean plates and surfaces. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that cross-contamination can also happen in the kitchen.
The packaging of the exact version gives you the information you need to check at the time of purchase. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the current gluten-free claim and allergen information on the product itself.
