Who is this for?

Parents packing strictly gluten-free snacks

When choosing a biscuit for a child with coeliac disease, the gluten-free label on the current packaging and avoiding contact with gluten during storage and transport are essential.

Families comparing supermarket options

If you’re looking for gluten-free biscuits at Albert Heijn, Jumbo, ALDI or Lidl, you can search online for suitable products. Then check the packaging of your chosen product and whether it’s available in store.

Parents packing a snack for school or after-school care

It’s not just your choice of biscuit that matters, but also how it’s stored, eaten and possibly shared. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights several ways children may come into contact with gluten at school and in childcare settings.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check the gluten-free label and how the biscuit will be handled. Only then compare availability, flavour and portion size.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free labelling and separate storage Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and read any warnings about cereals containing gluten. Keep the biscuit separate from bread and regular biscuits. When I’m packing something for a child with coeliac disease, I want to be able to trust the label and avoid contact with crumbs; this is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Availability Browse the shop’s gluten-free biscuit range and check whether your chosen product is available locally. Keep another explicitly labelled gluten-free biscuit in mind as a back-up. For a regular snack, I want to be able to find a product during my usual food shop; around 30% of consumers prioritise this practical choice.
Flavour and portion size Compare the type of biscuit and pack size only after checking that the specific variety is labelled gluten-free. Check for other allergens if relevant. Once the biscuit meets the gluten-free requirement, I want to choose a flavour and portion size that suit the occasion; this matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a familiar biscuit brand is gluten-free

    A familiar flavour or brand name tells you nothing about whether the specific variety you’re packing is labelled gluten-free.

    Check the current packaging to make sure that particular biscuit is explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’.

  • Relying only on the online product page

    Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore recommends checking the packaging before eating the product.

    Use the product page to find options, then check the packaging of the product you’ve actually bought before packing it.

  • Forgetting about crumbs and shared food

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, gluten can accidentally get onto gluten-free food, including during storage and eating.

    Use a clean lunch box, keep the biscuit separate from food containing gluten, and agree with the school or after-school club how it will be stored and whether it can be shared.

  • Relying on a changing range

    A gluten-free special-buy product may not be available every time you shop. Lidl, for example, says its additional gluten-free products are not always available.

    Check availability and find a second product in advance whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’.

Brands and ranges to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn features a gluten-free biscuit category online, including products from its AH Glutenvrij range.

  • The dedicated category makes it easy to search specifically for gluten-free biscuits.
  • Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergen information can change, so always read the current packaging.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij range includes gluten-free speculaas, syrup waffles, mini cakes and digestives.

  • The selection includes different types of biscuits for you to compare for your child.
  • Check the current packaging of your chosen variety, look for any other allergens and confirm availability.

Céréal

Jumbo features a product page for Céréal gluten-free and lactose-free chocolate biscuits, 150 g.

  • This specific variety may be worth considering if you’re also looking for a lactose-free label.
  • Those labels say nothing about other allergens, so check the current packaging for details.

Heerlijck Banket en Trader Joe's bij ALDI

ALDI features gluten-free coconut macaroons from Heerlijck Banket and gluten-free Rice Cookies from Trader Joe's.

  • These products offer two different types of biscuit to consider.
  • Check whether the product is available in store and read the packaging of the specific variety.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.

  • Its flavour and texture can be a useful reference when comparing alternatives.
  • If your child has coeliac disease, don’t rely on the brand name or flavour: the only useful buying criterion here is an explicit gluten-free label on the current packaging of the specific variety.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘wheat-free’ mean the same as ‘gluten-free’?

No. If you’re choosing a biscuit for a child with coeliac disease, look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging; ‘wheat-free’ doesn’t automatically confirm this. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product can be called gluten-free if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product.

Should I check a familiar biscuit again?

Yes, check the current packaging even if you’ve bought it before. Albert Heijn says ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the gluten-free label and ingredients list again.

What does ‘may contain cereals containing gluten’ mean?

Take this warning seriously if the biscuit is for someone with coeliac disease. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, it indicates a real risk that the product contains more than 20 mg of gluten per kg; in that case, choose another product whose current packaging suits their needs.

Can I pack a gluten-free biscuit for school or after-school care?

Agree in advance how the biscuit will be stored and eaten there. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that gluten can be present in various places at school and in childcare settings, so ask about local arrangements for allergens, sharing food and storage.

Are oat biscuits automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

No. Only choose an oat biscuit if the specific packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. The Dutch Coeliac Society also says that a small number of people with coeliac disease react to pure oats.