If you have coeliac disease, choose biscuits for a weekend breakfast only if the current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain mark, and keep them away from crumbs from regular breakfast foods. Then you can choose between gluten-free speculaas, a soft biscuit or an oat biscuit. Choose oats only if they’re explicitly labelled gluten-free and you can tolerate them. According to Jumbo, regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos contains wheat flour and isn’t a gluten-free alternative.
At breakfast, you want to choose a biscuit based on the current gluten-free label, rather than simply assuming it’s suitable because it doesn’t appear to contain wheat. You also need to take care when serving it: the Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of cross-contamination from crumbs.
You’re looking for the flavour and texture of speculaas, but need a specific gluten-free version. According to Jumbo, regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos contains wheat flour, so its familiar flavour doesn’t mean it’s suitable for coeliac disease.
You’re serving biscuits to several people. As well as checking the gluten-free label, check the ingredients and allergens for each version you choose—for example, if someone also needs to avoid milk, eggs or nuts.
First, check the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then choose the type of biscuit that suits your breakfast. If you have other dietary requirements, check the allergen information for that exact version too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and cross-contamination | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain mark on the current packaging. When serving, keep the biscuit away from crumbs from regular products. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on something simply appearing to be wheat-free, and I want to avoid crumbs getting onto my biscuit at the table. This check comes first for around 50% of consumers. |
| Type of biscuit for breakfast | Choose between gluten-free speculaas, a soft biscuit and an oat biscuit. If you choose oats, also check that they’re explicitly labelled gluten-free. | I want a crunchy biscuit with my coffee or tea, but might prefer a soft one for brunch. Around 30% of consumers give their preferred type of biscuit top priority. |
| Other allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the version you choose; ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you whether it contains milk, eggs or nuts, for example. | When I’m putting out food for several people, the biscuit also needs to suit their other dietary requirements. For around 20% of consumers, these additional ingredients and allergens are the first thing they consider. |
According to Jumbo, regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos contains wheat flour. Its flavour or brand name doesn’t make these biscuits suitable for a strict gluten-free diet.
Check the exact version on the packaging and look for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain mark.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats can be contaminated with gluten during growing and processing. Some people with coeliac disease also can’t tolerate oats.
Only choose oat biscuits if the packaging explicitly labels the oats gluten-free or displays the Crossed Grain mark. Also bear in mind your own tolerance for oats.
A gluten-free label doesn’t mean a biscuit is also free from milk, eggs or nuts, for example. This matters when you’re preparing breakfast for several people.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the version you’re buying, even if you’re already familiar with a similar product.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs and shared kitchen utensils can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.
Put the biscuits out separately and use clean hands, crockery and utensils.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free range includes speculaas and other types of biscuit to compare.
Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij van Gluten range includes speculaas and other types of biscuit.
As well as biscuits, Schär offers other gluten-free products, including soft cakes.
Regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos is a well-known speculaas biscuit, but it isn’t a gluten-free choice for this breakfast.
ALDI lists specific gluten-free biscuit options, including Heerlijck Banket Kokosmakronen and Trader Joe's Rice Cookies.
Lidl promotes a gluten-free range, with additional products sometimes available for a limited time.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product bearing the Crossed Grain mark contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. Also check the current ingredients and other allergens if they’re relevant to your choice.
No. The absence of wheat alone doesn’t confirm that a biscuit is gluten-free. Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain mark on the current packaging, and also watch out for possible cross-contamination when serving.
Only choose an oat biscuit if the oats are explicitly labelled gluten-free and you can tolerate them. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that oats can be contaminated with gluten during growing and processing.
Serve the gluten-free biscuits separately and use clean hands, crockery and utensils. This helps stop crumbs from regular bread or biscuits getting onto them—a risk highlighted by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
No. The regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos described by Jumbo contains wheat flour. So don’t choose this version for anyone who needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet because of coeliac disease.
