Who is this relevant to?

Parents of a child with coeliac disease

Looking for a biscuit that fits a strict gluten-free diet. Regular Verkade Nobo Sprits Naturel biscuits are not suitable because Jumbo’s ingredient list includes wheat flour.

Anyone packing a school lunch

Wanting to prevent a gluten-free biscuit from coming into contact with bread containing gluten or crumbs in transit or at school. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses that gluten-free food must stay gluten-free.

Families looking for a different type of biscuit

Looking for an alternative to familiar spritz biscuits, while also wanting to check the ingredients, portion size and any other allergens.

What should you look for?

First check that the biscuit is suitable for a gluten-free diet, then consider how to keep it separate when packing it. Flavour and biscuit type can help you choose between suitable options.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free suitability Read the gluten-free claim and ingredients, and check the packaging for any cross-contamination warnings. Check for other allergens separately. If my child has coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a biscuit’s name or shape. For around 50% of consumers, suitability for a strict gluten-free diet comes first.
Keeping it separate Check whether the biscuit can be packed cleanly and separately from bread containing gluten, and ask about the school’s rules on sharing food. If the biscuit is packed alongside ordinary sandwiches, I want to prevent contact with crumbs and avoid mix-ups. Around 30% of consumers give lunchbox management top priority.
Biscuit type and portion Compare the ingredients, type of biscuit and amount you want to pack; check the current packaging when you buy it. If you want to replace regular spritz biscuits, look for a gluten-free biscuit with a flavour and portion size that suits the lunchbox. For around 20% of consumers, choosing between suitable biscuits is the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all spritz biscuits are gluten-free

    According to Jumbo, regular Verkade Nobo Sprits Naturel biscuits contain wheat flour. A biscuit’s name and shape therefore don’t tell you whether it is suitable for a child with coeliac disease.

    Start with the gluten-free claim and the ingredients on the packaging, not the picture of the biscuit.

  • Relying solely on the online product page

    Ingredients and allergens can change. A product description you looked at previously is no substitute for the information on the pack you buy.

    Check the physical packaging again before packing the biscuit.

  • Packing a gluten-free biscuit loose next to ordinary bread

    The Dutch Coeliac Society says that contact with crumbs containing gluten can contaminate a gluten-free product.

    Use a clean, separate compartment, bag or lunchbox, and talk to the school about sharing food and treats.

  • Assuming the range will always be available

    A gluten-free biscuit mentioned here may not be available in every shop. Lidl, for example, describes its additional gluten-free range as temporary.

    Check what’s available locally before relying on one particular alternative.

Brands and shops to consider

Verkade

Verkade describes Oaties Naturel and Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free oat biscuits. They are different biscuits from regular Nobo Sprits.

  • Verkade says the Oaties varieties contain gluten-free oat ingredients.
  • According to Jumbo, regular Nobo Sprits contain wheat flour. Check the current packaging and other relevant allergens for Oaties too; according to the product information, the milk chocolate variety contains milk and soya.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has a range of gluten-free snacks, including AH Gluten-Free Almond Biscuits.

  • Albert Heijn says the almond biscuits are made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • According to the product information, they contain ingredients including almonds, egg, soya and wheat starch. So assess other allergies separately from the gluten-free claim.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers a range of different biscuit types under its Lekker Vrij van Gluten range, including speculaas.

  • The range gives you a starting point for finding a different type of biscuit from spritz.
  • Check the packaging for each product you choose, as well as the range at the shop where you do your food shopping.

PLUS

PLUS lists gluten-free chocolate chip biscuits as an alternative.

  • The product information lists ingredients including rice flour, maize flour and tapioca starch.
  • According to PLUS, this variety also contains milk, hazelnuts and egg. Check whether these ingredients are suitable for the person you’re packing for.

ALDI

ALDI lists Trader Joe's Rice Cookies as gluten-free rice biscuits.

  • Rice biscuits are another type to consider if spritz biscuits aren’t suitable.
  • Check the packaging and whether the product is available at the shop in question.

Lidl

Lidl provides information about a changing range of additional gluten-free products.

  • The current range may offer another option to look at.
  • Don’t assume a particular gluten-free lunchbox biscuit will be available; Lidl describes this additional range as temporary.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular spritz biscuits gluten-free?

Not all spritz biscuits are gluten-free: according to Jumbo, regular Verkade Nobo Sprits Naturel biscuits contain wheat flour, so they aren’t suitable for a strict gluten-free diet for someone with coeliac disease. Always check a different product’s own packaging.

Are gluten-free biscuits also free from other allergens?

No, a gluten-free claim doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent. For example, the product information for Albert Heijn and PLUS gluten-free biscuits lists ingredients such as almonds, egg, milk, soya or hazelnuts. So read all the information on the current packaging.

How should you pack a gluten-free biscuit for school?

Keep the biscuit separate from bread containing gluten and crumbs, for example in a clean, separate lunchbox or in its sealed packaging. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses that gluten-free food must stay gluten-free; also talk to the school about its rules on sharing food and treats.

Are gluten-free oat biscuits the same as spritz biscuits?

No, Verkade Oaties are oat biscuits, not spritz biscuits. If you’re considering them for a child with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free claim and ingredients on the pack you buy, as well as any other allergens relevant to the child.