Who is this choice important for?

Party hosts welcoming a guest with coeliac disease

You want to choose a biscuit with a gluten-free claim you can check on the packaging. When serving, you’ll also want to make sure no crumbs from ordinary biscuits get mixed in.

Party hosts catering for different dietary needs

If guests also need to avoid other ingredients, look beyond the ‘gluten-free’ claim. Product examples from Albert Heijn and Jumbo show why it’s important to check the allergen information for each biscuit.

Organisers of children’s or family parties

You’re looking for portions that are easy to hand out, while making it clear which treat is intended for the guest with coeliac disease.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check the gluten-free claim and the label. Then consider which other allergens matter to your guests and how you can serve the biscuits separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free claim Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, and read the current label. If a guest with coeliac disease is coming, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. An estimated 46% of consumers say verifiable gluten-free status is their main concern.
Other allergens Compare the ingredients and ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements with the ingredients the guest needs to avoid. If I also need to consider ingredients such as milk, eggs or nuts, I need more information about each biscuit than just ‘gluten-free’. These additional allergens are the main concern for around 27% of consumers.
Portions and serving Compare the number of biscuits or portions, and think about how you’ll serve the gluten-free biscuits separately. For a party, I want to be able to hand out enough biscuits without them ending up among the ordinary ones. Ease of serving and presentation are the main practical concern for an estimated 27% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Relying on the product name or online shop category alone

    A name or category doesn’t give you the same assurance as the claims and allergen information on the current packaging.

    Read the label before serving and look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol.

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

    A gluten-free biscuit may still contain eggs, soya or nuts, for example. Which allergens matter will vary from guest to guest.

    Ask which ingredients need to be avoided, then check the full allergen information for every product you choose.

  • Mixing gluten-free and ordinary biscuits

    For someone with coeliac disease, crumbs from biscuits containing gluten can make a separate gluten-free treat unsuitable.

    Keep the gluten-free biscuits separate until you serve them, and use clean, separate serving utensils.

  • Relying on a limited-edition range

    A party treat from a changing or limited-edition range may not be available when you need it.

    Check availability before the party, and have a second packaged, verifiably gluten-free option in mind.

Brands to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes almond biscuits in a 45 g pack, with four stated portions.

  • Albert Heijn labels these almond biscuits ‘gluten-free’ and states that they are made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • This variety contains eggs, soya and almonds. Check the current packaging if guests also need to avoid other allergens.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo’s range includes various types of products, such as speculaas, syrup waffles and filled biscuits. Compare them if you’re looking for a particular kind of treat.

  • The different product types give you a starting point for comparing shapes and portion sizes.
  • The range name doesn’t tell you which other allergens an individual product contains, so check the label each time.

Schär

Schär offers 100 g Choco Chip Cookies, among other products, if you’re considering chocolate biscuits as a treat.

  • The variety described by Jumbo is labelled gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan.
  • These biscuits contain soya. Even with a specialist brand, check the allergens in the variety you choose.

Céréal

Céréal has a 150 g chocolate biscuit variety labelled gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • Both claims are useful if a guest also needs to avoid lactose.
  • This variety contains soya and may also contain eggs, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin, among other allergens. Lactose-free doesn’t mean free from these allergens.

ALDI / Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists gluten-free coconut macaroons from Heerlijck Banket in a pack of six, weighing 360 g.

  • The stated number of biscuits makes it easy to plan these coconut macaroons as individual treats.
  • ALDI warns that special-buy items may sell out quickly. Check availability and read the label on the pack you buy.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do the biscuits need to be labelled ‘gluten-free’ for a guest with coeliac disease?

For that guest, choose biscuits with an explicit gluten-free claim or the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that eating gluten-free is essential for people with coeliac disease, so an ordinary biscuit—or simply assuming that the ingredients don’t contain wheat—is not a suitable alternative.

Can gluten-free and ordinary biscuits go on the same plate?

If you’re hosting someone with coeliac disease, it’s best not to serve them together: crumbs from ordinary biscuits could get onto the gluten-free treat. Serve it separately and use clean, separate serving utensils.

Are gluten-free biscuits also free from milk, eggs or nuts?

No. ‘Gluten-free’ tells you nothing about those other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists eggs, soya and almonds in AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel; check the label of the product you’ll actually serve for every guest.

Are gluten-free oat biscuits suitable for everyone with coeliac disease?

Not necessarily. Joybuy says that, according to Verkade, a small group of people with coeliac disease may be sensitive to oat protein, even when the oats are gluten-free. Ask whether your guest can tolerate oats, and check the gluten-free claim and current label on the biscuits you choose.