Who is this choice relevant to?

People with coeliac disease who exercise

If you want a small snack after exercise, checking for a gluten-free label is the first step. Always check the packaging of the biscuit you buy.

Snackers comparing oats and nutritional values

If you’re looking for an oat biscuit, you can compare the serving size and the stated protein, fibre and sugar content. Check whether the biscuit also contains nuts.

Shoppers with additional allergies or intolerances

If you need to avoid something else as well as gluten, such as milk, nuts or soya, you’ll need more information than just the ‘gluten-free’ label. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking for a gluten-free label and any other allergens. Then compare the serving size and nutritional information to make sure the biscuit suits the kind of snack you’re looking for.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free label Check that ‘gluten-free’ appears on the current packaging and read the ingredients. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour in Lotus Biscoff Original. If I have coeliac disease, I first need to know whether this particular biscuit is sold as gluten-free. For around 50% of consumers, this reassurance comes first.
Serving size and nutritional value Compare the serving size and nutritional value per serving; look at protein, fibre and sugar in particular. After exercise, I want to know what one biscuit adds to my snack, rather than looking only at the product name. Around 30% of consumers put this consideration first.
Other allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information to check for anything you need to avoid, such as milk, nuts or soya. If I need to avoid another allergen as well as gluten, I don’t want to rely on the gluten-free label alone. This additional check comes first for around 10% of consumers.
Availability Check the current range at the shop where you plan to buy and look at the label on the specific product there. If I want to pick up a biscuit quickly after exercise, a range I’ve seen before is only useful if the product is still in stock. For around 10% of consumers, this practical consideration matters most.

Common mistakes

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

    A gluten-free biscuit may still contain other allergens. For example, the Céréal Chocolate Biscuits listed by Jumbo contain soya; Albert Heijn lists milk in Schär Avena.

    Check the full ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging you’re buying.

  • Choosing ordinary speculoos as a gluten-free alternative

    Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour in Lotus Biscoff Original. This biscuit is therefore not suitable as a gluten-free choice for someone with coeliac disease.

    Choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free; don’t assume it is based on the type of biscuit.

  • Assuming a gluten-free biscuit is automatically a high-protein snack

    The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much protein a serving contains. For example, Jumbo lists 0.6 g of protein in a 17 g serving of Céréal Chocolate Biscuits.

    Check the nutritional information per serving if protein content matters when choosing your snack.

  • Assuming a product you saw in the shop before will still be there

    A temporary range doesn’t tell you which biscuits will be available on your next visit. Lidl described its additional gluten-free range as temporary.

    Check what’s currently available and read the label again when you buy.

Brands and own-label options to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn sells, among other products under its own label, Glutenvrij Haverkoekjes hazelnoot (gluten-free hazelnut oat biscuits).

  • For this biscuit, Albert Heijn lists 46% gluten-free oat flour and a serving size of 11 g. It lists 8.5 g of protein and 6.4 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The biscuit contains hazelnuts and has 19 g of sugar per 100 g. Compare the values per 100 g with the portion you actually eat.

Céréal

Jumbo describes Céréal Chocolate Biscuits as gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • For a 17 g serving, Jumbo lists 11 g of carbohydrates and 0.6 g of protein.
  • The product contains soya and may also contain other allergens. Lactose-free doesn’t mean the biscuit is suitable for every other allergy.

Schär

Schär has several gluten-free biscuit varieties; the ingredients differ from product to product.

  • For Schär Avena Oat Biscuit, Albert Heijn lists 55% gluten-free wholegrain oats, with 7.4 g of protein and 6.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Avena Oat Biscuit contains milk and may contain soya and lupin. Check the packaging and current availability of this variety.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos is a standard speculoos biscuit, not a gluten-free alternative for the purposes of this article.

  • Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour and soya flour as ingredients, and gluten as a present allergen. Don’t choose this product if you’re looking for a gluten-free biscuit because you have coeliac disease.

ALDI

ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Kokosmakronen as a pack of six gluten-free coconut macaroons.

  • The gluten-free label and six-piece pack help you identify this specific biscuit in the range.
  • For information about other allergens and nutritional value, read the packaging of the coconut macaroons you find; the gluten-free label doesn’t answer those questions.

Lidl

Lidl describes its additional gluten-free range as temporary.

  • Don’t assume you’ll find the same range on your next visit. Check whether there’s a suitable biscuit on the shelf and read its label.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I spot a gluten-free biscuit when shopping?

Check that the biscuit packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. Also read the ingredients and allergen information for the product you’re actually buying, especially if you need to avoid anything else as well as gluten.

Can I choose an oat biscuit if I need to eat gluten-free?

Only choose an oat biscuit that is explicitly labelled gluten-free; oats as an ingredient are not enough to establish this. Also check for other ingredients, such as nuts or milk, if they’re relevant to you.

Is Lotus Biscoff Original gluten-free?

No. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour among the ingredients in Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos and names gluten as a present allergen. So it isn’t an alternative if you’re looking for a gluten-free biscuit because you have coeliac disease.

Does a gluten-free biscuit automatically contain lots of protein?

No, the gluten-free label says nothing about the protein content. Albert Heijn lists 8.5 g of protein per 100 g for AH Glutenvrij Haverkoekjes hazelnoot; Jumbo lists 0.6 g per 17 g serving of Céréal Chocolate Biscuits. Compare products on the same basis, for example per serving.

Should I check for other allergens in gluten-free biscuits too?

Yes. The Céréal Chocolate Biscuits reviewed contain soya, while milk is listed for Schär Avena. Also check the current packaging for any statements about the possible presence of other allergens.