If you have coeliac disease, first look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the exact biscuit variety, then check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the current packaging. Next, check whether that same variety carries a Fairtrade claim and which ingredients it applies to. A Fairtrade claim says nothing about gluten, and a supermarket’s gluten-free range does not prove that every biscuit in it is Fairtrade.
You want to be able to check the gluten-free claim for the specific variety, and you take warnings about possible contact with gluten into account. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the importance of these warnings.
You’re looking for a verifiable Fairtrade claim for an ingredient such as cocoa, while checking the gluten information separately. A certification for one ingredient does not mean the biscuit is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
You can use a gluten-free range to find potential options, then read the label on the variety you choose. Albert Heijn says that ingredient and allergen information can change and advises customers to check the packaging.
Keep the criteria separate: first check the biscuit’s gluten-free claim and any warnings; only then look for a Fairtrade claim on that exact variety. If you’re considering chocolate instead, the gluten information for the bar you choose still matters.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim and warnings | Read the explicit gluten-free claim on the current variety and check the allergens and warnings about cereals containing gluten. | I’m looking for a biscuit for someone with coeliac disease and don’t want to rely on the ingredients list alone. For around 50% of consumers, confirmed gluten-free status is their top priority when buying. |
| Fairtrade claim on the same variety | Look for a Fairtrade claim specific to the product and check whether it applies to an ingredient such as cocoa, rather than the whole biscuit. | I want both an appropriate gluten-free claim and a verifiable claim for the cocoa in my chocolate biscuit. This combination matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Finding a biscuit at the supermarket | Use a gluten-free range as a starting point, then check the packaging of the variety available. | When doing my usual shopping, I want to find a gluten-free biscuit without treating a shop category as definitive product information. This practical approach is the top buying priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Fairtrade cocoa says nothing about the gluten content of the finished product. Tony’s Chocolonely’s product information for a 50 g dark chocolate bar lists Fairtrade cocoa and also warns that the product may contain gluten.
For a biscuit or chocolate bar, check the gluten information for the exact variety first, then assess the Fairtrade claim separately.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list gluten-free biscuits; Jumbo also has a separate Fairtrade category. That doesn’t mean a biscuit from the gluten-free range is automatically Fairtrade.
Look for both claims on the same individual product, preferably on the current packaging.
Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists wheat flour and gluten in the product specification for Lotus Biscoff Original. This standard variety is therefore not a gluten-free biscuit option.
Check the ingredients and claims for the specific variety, not just the brand name.
An online description you saw previously may not match the packaging you’re buying now. Albert Heijn warns that ingredient, nutritional and dietary information can change.
Before choosing the product, check the gluten-free claim, allergens and any warnings on the packaging again.
These examples can help with your search, but a brand or shop category is no substitute for checking the individual biscuit.
Albert Heijn has an online category for gluten-free biscuits, including varieties with chocolate.
Jumbo lists biscuits in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten range and also has a separate Fairtrade category.
Lotus Biscoff Original is a standard speculoos biscuit, not an example of a gluten-free option.
The 50 g dark chocolate bar is an example of how to assess a Fairtrade claim and gluten information separately. It isn’t a biscuit.
You can’t tell from the ingredients list alone. Check whether the specific variety is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and also read the allergens and any warnings about cereals containing gluten. The Dutch Coeliac Society stresses the importance of these warnings.
No. A Fairtrade claim for cocoa isn’t a gluten-free claim for the biscuit. Check the packaging for both separate claims on the same variety. The distinction matters if you’re choosing chocolate instead too: the 50 g dark chocolate bar for which Tony’s Chocolonely lists Fairtrade cocoa also carries a warning about possible gluten.
Don’t treat a biscuit with this warning as a safe go-to option for someone with coeliac disease. In this context, the Dutch Coeliac Society describes this warning and ‘not suitable for people with coeliac disease’ as warnings with the same meaning.
Use the website to find a biscuit, but check the packaging again when you buy it. Albert Heijn says that information about ingredients, nutritional value and allergens can change, so check the claims and warnings on the variety you’re actually buying.
