If you have coeliac disease or need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, choose an unopened biscuit clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the current ingredients and allergen information. Sealed individual portions are handy if you’re eating on the go; if you’re sharing a pack, check for other allergens too and keep crumbs from regular snacks away from the biscuits.
A pre-packed biscuit with a clear gluten-free label lets you check the packaging in advance. Once opened, keep it separate from snacks containing gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for people with coeliac disease.
If you want to have a biscuit during the day, look for a pack with individually sealed portions. Jumbo lists Schär Choco Chip Cookies as containing nine biscuits divided between three inner packs; check the packaging of any other product.
If you’re taking biscuits for several people, check the ingredients and allergens for each product you choose. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean a biscuit is also free from allergens such as soya, oats, milk or nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority advises checking the allergen information on the label.
First decide whether you’ll eat the biscuit yourself from a sealed pack or share it with others. Then check the gluten-free label, allergens and how the biscuits are divided within the pack.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten safety | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and check the ingredients and allergens. Keep the biscuit separate from regular snacks. | If I have coeliac disease, I want an unopened biscuit whose label I can check. For around 46% of consumers, knowing a product is gluten-free comes first. |
| Taking it with you and eating it individually | Compare pack sizes and check whether the biscuits come in sealed inner packs. | With limited space in my bag, I want to be able to open a portion on the go without sharing the rest of the pack. For around 27% of consumers, ease of carrying is the most important consideration. |
| Sharing and other allergens | Check the allergens for each variety. When sharing, don’t use crockery or tongs that have also been used for regular biscuits. | When I take biscuits for a group, I want to consider everyone’s allergens and avoid contact with crumbs. For around 27% of consumers, suitability for the group matters most. |
A previous purchase won’t tell you which ingredients and allergens are listed on the packaging of the current variety.
Read the label on the exact pack you’re buying, even if you’ve eaten the same biscuit before.
A gluten-free biscuit may still contain other ingredients or allergens. For example, soya is listed for Schär Choco Chip Cookies.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information for everyone who will be eating from the pack.
Once the pack is open, crumbs or shared crockery can lead to contact between the biscuits. This is particularly important if someone has coeliac disease.
Keep the gluten-free pack separate and use clean hands and separate crockery when serving.
The name of a loose biscuit doesn’t tell you enough about its ingredients, allergens or how it is handled alongside other snacks.
Ask for this information before buying. If the explanation isn’t specific enough for your needs, choose an unopened, clearly labelled pre-packed product.
These brands offer different styles of biscuit. Always check the individual variety and its current packaging, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Schär offers a range of gluten-free biscuits, including chocolate chip cookies and digestives.
Albert Heijn’s own-label range includes speculaas, chocolate chip cookies and oat biscuits.
Jumbo lists gluten-free biscuit options in this own-label range, including speculaas and filled biscuits.
Consenza offers, among other products, Raisin-Cranberry Biscuits made with gluten-free oats.
Albert Heijn lists several gluten-free oat biscuit and oatcake varieties from Nairn's.
This selection features a 150 g pack of biscuits to take with you. If you have coeliac disease or need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, check the gluten-free label and allergens on the current packaging before using the product.
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A pack of biscuits for anyone who wants to take a snack to a festival. If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, check the label and allergens on the packaging. Also see whether the biscuits are individually wrapped if you want to take sealed portions with you.
Check the current packaging to see whether the biscuit is labelled ‘gluten-free’, and read the ingredients and allergens too. Keep a biscuit for someone with coeliac disease separate from snacks containing gluten.
Before buying, ask about the ingredients and allergens, and how the biscuit is handled alongside other products. If the information isn’t specific enough for your needs, an unopened pre-packed biscuit with a clear label gives you a better chance to check it yourself.
No. Don’t choose a biscuit based on the word ‘oat’ alone: check that the biscuit itself is labelled gluten-free. Jumbo lists the oats in Consenza Raisin-Cranberry Biscuits as gluten-free; the information for this variety also says that it may contain nuts.
Not necessarily: ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you whether a product contains other allergens. Schär Choco Chip Cookies list soya, and Consenza Raisin-Cranberry Biscuits may contain nuts. So check the label of the variety you’ve chosen for each person.
