If you have coeliac disease, start by choosing a biscuit with a current ‘gluten-free’ label, rather than one that simply looks like a spritz biscuit. According to Verkade, Verkade NoboSprits Original contains wheat flour. Oat, chocolate or coconut biscuits labelled gluten-free can make a good alternative to enjoy with coffee, but they have a different shape or recipe. Check the other ingredients and allergens that matter to you, too.
You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or cake, and an explicit gluten-free label matters more to you than the shape of a spritz biscuit. Ordinary NoboSprits Original isn’t a suitable alternative: Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient.
Above all, you want a biscuit for the same coffee break. A gluten-free oat, chocolate or coconut biscuit is different from a classic spritz biscuit, so choose the type that appeals to you without expecting an identical texture.
As well as gluten, you may also need to avoid ingredients such as milk, egg, nuts or soya. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you which of these ingredients a particular biscuit contains or may contain.
First, check the current packaging for a gluten-free label. Then choose the type of biscuit that suits your coffee break and read the other allergen information before relying on the packaging and availability.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging; don’t rely only on the biscuit’s shape or an ingredients list that doesn’t mention wheat. | If I’m looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee because I have coeliac disease, I first want to know whether the product itself is labelled gluten-free. For around 42% of consumers, this label comes first. |
| Type of biscuit | Decide whether you’d prefer an oat, chocolate or coconut biscuit; these aren’t identical spritz recipes. | I mainly want a crisp biscuit to enjoy with coffee and am happy for an alternative to taste or look different. Around 25% of consumers make the biscuit-eating experience their top priority. |
| Other allergens | Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement for each variety; assess lactose-free separately from gluten-free. | If I also need to avoid other ingredients, a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough to help me choose. For around 17% of consumers, these additional restrictions matter most. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size and whether the product you’ve chosen is available at the shop where you want to buy it. | I’ve found a suitable biscuit, but I also want the right pack size and a shop where I can buy it. For around 16% of consumers, this is the most important next step. |
A crisp texture tells you nothing about whether a biscuit is labelled gluten-free. Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient in NoboSprits Original and warns that the product may contain other cereals containing gluten.
If you need to avoid gluten, don’t choose based on the spritz shape. Check the current packaging of the alternative instead.
According to the product information, Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties melkchocolade contains milk and soya. PLUS glutenvrije choco-chipcookies contain egg, milk and hazelnut, among other ingredients.
Decide which other ingredients you want to avoid, and check the allergen and ‘may contain’ information for each biscuit.
A general range page or temporary offer doesn’t tell you whether the biscuit you’re looking for will be available when you shop.
Check what your shop currently has in stock and, if needed, have another suitable type of biscuit in mind.
These examples show how gluten-free biscuit alternatives can differ. Always check the specific variety, not just the brand or shop name.
Verkade sells both NoboSprits Original and the separate Glutenvrije Oaties melkchocolade variety.
Albert Heijn’s product information gives you a starting point for assessing Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties melkchocolade as a separate biscuit variety.
Jumbo lists Céréal Glutenvrije & Lactosevrije Chocoladekoekjes among its alternatives for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee.
PLUS lists gluten-free choco-chipcookies and gluten-free double cookies as two different biscuit varieties.
ALDI Netherlands lists Heerlijck Banket Kokosmakronen and Kokoskransen as gluten-free coconut biscuits.
Lidl describes a gluten-free range and individual additional products.
No, NoboSprits Original isn’t suitable if you’re looking for a gluten-free biscuit. Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient and says the product may contain other cereals containing gluten.
No, the word ‘oat’ alone isn’t enough to go on when you’re buying. Check whether the biscuit itself is labelled gluten-free: Albert Heijn’s product information gives this label to Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties melkchocolade, and also lists gluten-free oats and gluten-free oat flour.
According to Jumbo, Céréal Glutenvrije & Lactosevrije Chocoladekoekjes are gluten-free and lactose-free. Also check the current allergen information: the product page lists soya and warns that ingredients including egg, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin may be present.
Check the current packaging if you’re relying on the gluten-free label, ingredients or allergen information. Albert Heijn and PLUS note that product information can change, so check the details for the variety you’re actually buying.
