If you have coeliac disease, only choose a chocolate-coated biscuit after checking the current packaging for a gluten-free label and any warnings; the chocolate coating tells you nothing about the type of grain used. Verkade describes Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free, and Jumbo includes Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade in its gluten-free range, but if you choose an oat biscuit, you should also consider whether you tolerate oats. Lotus Biscoff with chocolate isn’t an alternative for this purpose: Lotus lists wheat flour as an ingredient.
For them, the current gluten-free label takes priority over the brand, flavour or product photo. It’s also important to check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging, as the Dutch Coeliac Society explains in its guidance on reading labels.
If you’re looking for an oat biscuit with a milk chocolate coating, check the oats as well as the gluten-free label. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that a small number of people with coeliac disease react even to pure gluten-free oats.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list specific gluten-free biscuit options. Compare the individual products and their current labels: a chocolate biscuit from a well-known brand isn’t automatically gluten-free.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and any warnings on the packaging. Then decide whether you’d prefer an oat biscuit or a digestive with a chocolate coating, and whether the other ingredients are suitable for you.
| What to check | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Look for a gluten-free label on the current packaging and read any warnings about cereals containing gluten. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free means less than 20 mg of gluten per kilo of product. | I don’t want to assume a biscuit is suitable for coeliac disease based on its chocolate coating or product photo. For around 36% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Chocolate coating and type of biscuit | Check whether it has a chocolate coating, rather than just chocolate pieces or a cocoa flavour, and compare an oat biscuit with a digestive. | If I’m specifically looking for a biscuit with a chocolate coating, the type of biscuit it’s made from matters to my choice. Around 21% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Oats and other allergens | For an oat biscuit, check the information about gluten-free oats and read the allergen information for any ingredients that are relevant to you. | A gluten-free biscuit also needs to suit how I respond to oats or other ingredients. For around 29% of consumers, checking the ingredients for their own needs is the deciding factor. |
| Current product variant | Compare the exact variant and check the physical packaging, even if you’ve already viewed the product online. | I want to find a familiar option at a supermarket or online shop, but I need to be sure I’m buying the variant I’m looking for. Around 14% of consumers put this first. |
Chocolate doesn’t change the type of grain used in the biscuit. For example, Lotus lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff with chocolate.
Check the gluten-free label and the ingredients for the specific variant before judging it by its appearance or brand.
The Dutch Coeliac Society reports that a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure gluten-free oats.
Consider the oats when choosing a chocolate-coated oat biscuit; if you’re unsure how well you tolerate them, speak to your healthcare professional.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a warning like this can indicate a genuine risk that the product contains more than 20 mg of gluten per kilo, even if gluten isn’t listed as an ingredient.
As well as checking the ingredients list, read any warnings on the current packaging.
Albert Heijn warns that product ingredients, nutrition and allergen information can change.
So check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying, even if you already know the variant.
Verkade describes Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free oat biscuits with a milk chocolate coating.
Albert Heijn lists Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties Melkchocolade and has a category for gluten-free biscuits.
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade 165 g in its gluten-free range.
Lotus Biscoff with chocolate shows why the chocolate coating isn’t the deciding factor if you have coeliac disease.
No, ‘wheat-free’ doesn’t mean the same as ‘gluten-free’. Check the current packaging for a gluten-free label, and read the ingredients and warnings too. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten-free means less than 20 mg of gluten per kilo of product.
Verkade describes Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free, but check the current packaging before buying and take your own tolerance of oats into account. The Dutch Coeliac Society reports that a small number of people with coeliac disease also react to pure gluten-free oats.
Take that warning into account when making your choice, even if gluten isn’t listed in the ingredients. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, it indicates a genuine risk that the product contains more than 20 mg of gluten per kilo. If you have coeliac disease, look for an alternative whose current packaging gives you clear information.
No, Lotus lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff with chocolate. The chocolate coating doesn’t make this variant suitable as a gluten-free option.
