If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose regular kano biscuits from Albert Heijn or Jumbo: their product information lists wheat and gluten-containing ingredients. A clearly labelled gluten-free filled biscuit is the closest match in terms of snack type, but it may not have the same filling or flavour. If you mainly want something to take with you for your coffee, gluten-free biscuits, bars or crackers are also worth considering. Always check the label and any warnings about cross-contamination.
You’re looking for something sweet to have with your coffee, a bit like a filled biscuit. The regular kano biscuits listed by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain wheat or gluten-containing grains, so don’t choose based on the name or shape alone.
You want to take a snack with you on the train, to work or to campus. A biscuit, bar, cracker or rice cake could suit the occasion, as long as you check the current packaging for the product you choose.
If you have coeliac disease, there’s more to check than the ingredients list: the gluten-free claim and any warnings about possible cross-contamination also matter. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of contact with products containing gluten.
Start with a product that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the information on the current packaging. Then decide whether you’re mainly looking for a filled biscuit or another snack that’s easy to enjoy with a coffee on the go.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Check the gluten-free claim, allergen information and warnings about gluten-containing grains. Keep your snack sealed while you’re out and about. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know what the packaging says before taking the snack with other food. This check is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| How closely it matches a kano | For a gluten-free filled biscuit, compare the stated filling and size. Don’t assume it has the same recipe or flavour as a kano. | What I miss most with my coffee is a sweet, filled biscuit, not just any crunchy snack. Around 33% of consumers put this similarity first. |
| Taking it with you | Check the portion size and packaging, and choose between a biscuit, bar, cracker or rice cake. | When I’m travelling or at work, I want to be able to enjoy my coffee-time snack without any preparation and keep it wrapped until then. Convenience comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Those ingredients don’t make a kano gluten-free. Albert Heijn lists wheat and gluten-containing grains in its butter kano biscuits; Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten in its butter kano biscuits.
For this option, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, then read the full label.
A product may also come into contact with gluten through cross-contamination. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a warning that a product may contain gluten-containing grains indicates a real risk.
As well as the ingredients, check the allergen information, gluten-free claim and any warnings on the packaging.
At a shared eating area, crumbs from food containing gluten could end up on an unwrapped snack. The Dutch Coeliac Society also stresses the importance of preventing cross-contamination when you’re away from home.
Take your snack with you sealed, then place it on a clean surface after opening, away from regular sandwiches and biscuits.
A digestive biscuit, cracker or rice cake differs from a filled biscuit in both shape and filling. That matters if what you want to replace is specifically a sweet, filled snack to have with your coffee.
First decide whether you want a gluten-free filled biscuit or simply another snack for the journey, then check the label of the specific product.
Albert Heijn’s AH Glutenvrij range includes a 60 g filled biscuit, chocolate cookies and a breakfast cake bar.
Jumbo’s gluten-free range includes mini cakes, a brownie, crackers and a 60 g gluten-free filled biscuit.
PLUS lists gluten-free Schär Digestive Chocolate and gluten-free Schär spiced biscuits.
PLUS’s gluten-free selection includes muesli bars and crispbread, as well as products from other brands.
ALDI lists gluten-free Goud Gebakken rice cakes with sea salt.
The regular kano biscuits listed by Albert Heijn and Jumbo aren’t: Albert Heijn lists wheat and gluten-containing grains, while Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten. Always check the current packaging of any other product individually.
You can’t tell from the ingredients list alone. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that gluten can also get into a product through cross-contamination, so check the gluten-free claim and any warnings on the packaging.
Take your gluten-free snack with you sealed and only open it when you’re ready to eat. Use a clean surface and keep it away from crumbs from regular sandwiches and biscuits, as the Dutch Coeliac Society advises when preventing cross-contamination.
