If you have coeliac disease, a sealed packet labelled ‘gluten-free’ lets you check the ingredients and other allergens for yourself. An unwrapped biscuit from a café terrace is only worth considering if the café can give you allergen information before you order and explain exactly how it prevents contact with gluten during preparation and serving. Also ask in advance if you’re allowed to eat your own biscuit there.
You want to know not only what’s in a biscuit, but also how it’s prepared and served. With a packaged biscuit, you can check the gluten-free label; with an unwrapped one, you’ll also need to ask how the café prevents cross-contact with gluten.
You want to choose a biscuit before your café visit and take your time reading the label. A sealed packet means you’re less reliant on asking questions when you get there; just remember to check whether you’re allowed to eat it on the terrace.
You’re looking for a style of biscuit to go with your drink, without relying on the product name alone. Albert Heijn lists wheat in regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos; if you’re considering a separate speculaas or oat biscuit labelled gluten-free, check the label on that exact variety.
First, work out whether you can check the information about the biscuit and how it’s prepared. Then consider convenience, other allergens and flavour.
When: you want to read the label yourself beforehand, or the café can’t clearly explain how an unwrapped biscuit is handled.
Consider: you’ll need to get the biscuit in advance and check whether you’re allowed to eat it there.
When: the café can tell you about the allergens before you order and explain exactly how it prevents contact with gluten.
Consider: an ingredients list or verbal reassurance alone won’t tell you how the biscuit has been stored, prepared and served.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contact | For a packaged biscuit, look for the ‘gluten-free’ label. For an unwrapped biscuit, also ask how contact with gluten is prevented. | If I can’t check how an unwrapped biscuit is served, I want to be able to rely on a packet I can read myself. For around 42% of consumers, checking for gluten comes first. |
| Choosing in advance | Check the packet when you buy it and ask whether you’re allowed to eat your own biscuit on the terrace. | I’d rather arrange a biscuit in advance than have to rely on what’s available when I get there. Around 25% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Other allergens | Read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for the exact variety. | I need to look out for other allergens in my biscuit as well as gluten. This extra check is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
| Flavour to go with your drink | Once you’ve checked that it’s gluten-free, choose a flavour such as speculaas, oat or chocolate. | If it’s suitable for me, I want a biscuit that goes well with my coffee or tea. For around 16% of consumers, flavour is then the most important thing they’re looking for. |
Albert Heijn lists wheat flour and cereals containing gluten in regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos. So its familiar speculaas flavour doesn’t mean it’s suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Look for a separate variety labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the packet for that variety.
Allergen information tells you which allergens are present, but it doesn’t automatically explain how the café prevents cross-contact during preparation and serving.
For an unwrapped biscuit, ask about the ingredients as well as how it’s stored, prepared and served. If you don’t get a clear answer, don’t rely on reassurance alone.
A gluten-free biscuit may still contain other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists milk and soya in Twix Chocolate & caramel cookies gluten free, and warns that the product may contain nuts.
Check the exact packet for all allergens that are relevant to you or the person you’re buying for.
A familiar product name is no substitute for checking the information on the packet you’re buying now.
Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information again every time you buy.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free biscuit range includes speculaas, as well as a variety of sweet and savoury biscuits.
A brand to explore if you’re looking for biscuit-style or oat-based biscuits.
A brand with biscuit- and snack-style products in the gluten-free range shown by Albert Heijn.
An option to explore if you’re looking for a sweet cookie or a Viennese Finger.
Twix has a separate variety called Chocolate & caramel cookies gluten free.
Not on that information alone. For a packaged biscuit, look for the ‘gluten-free’ label: under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, it can be used when the gluten content is no more than 20 mg/kg. For an unwrapped biscuit, also ask how contact with gluten is prevented during preparation and serving.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a food business must be able to tell you about allergens in non-prepacked products before you buy, including cereals containing gluten. That information alone still doesn’t tell you how cross-contact with gluten is prevented.
Ask which cereals containing gluten are in the biscuit and how it’s stored, prepared and served. Also ask whether it could come into contact with ordinary biscuits, bread or shared utensils; the Dutch Coeliac Association’s hospitality guidelines emphasise working in a way that prevents cross-contamination with gluten.
No, the ‘gluten-free’ label says nothing about those other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists milk and soya in Twix Chocolate & caramel cookies gluten free and warns that this variety may contain nuts. So always read the allergen information for the biscuit you’re actually buying.
