If you have coeliac disease, don’t automatically reach for an ordinary spritz biscuit for your gaming night: Albert Heijn lists wheat in its AH Spritsen. An oat biscuit, chocolate chip biscuit or coconut biscuit labelled gluten-free could be an alternative, but check the current packaging for the gluten-free claim and other allergens. Keep the biscuits separate from snacks containing gluten when serving.
You’re looking for a sweet biscuit to enjoy while gaming. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free claim first and make sure it’s served separately and hygienically. Finding something similar to a spritz biscuit comes second.
You want to swap an ordinary spritz biscuit for a sweet biscuit and are open to oats, chocolate or coconut, even if the flavour and shape are different.
You’re buying for several people and, as well as checking the gluten-free claim, you’re looking at the packaging, other allergens and how everyone will help themselves to the snacks.
First check the gluten-free claim and how you’ll serve the biscuits. Then choose a type of biscuit and pack size to suit your gaming night.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and served hygienically | Read the gluten-free claim on the current packaging. Use a separate plate and clean utensils if there are also snacks containing gluten. | If there are ordinary biscuits on the table too, I want to avoid crumbs or shared utensils coming into contact with my snack. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free safety comes first. |
| Type of biscuit | Choose between options such as an oat biscuit, chocolate chip biscuit or coconut biscuit. None of these types is automatically the same as a spritz biscuit. | I’m mainly looking for a sweet, crunchy biscuit to enjoy while gaming and don’t need it to taste exactly like a spritz biscuit. For around 30% of consumers, the biscuit experience comes first. |
| Sharing and other allergens | Check the allergen information and pack contents for everyone who’ll be eating. | When I’m buying for a group, I want to know whether everyone can eat the biscuits we’ve chosen and how we’ll keep them separate. Around 20% of consumers give sharing the highest priority. |
A biscuit that looks like a gluten-free option isn’t necessarily gluten-free. Albert Heijn lists wheat in its AH Spritsen.
Check the current gluten-free claim on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying, and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
The Dutch Coeliac Association says that gluten crumbs can get onto gluten-free food through shared utensils and serving dishes, among other things.
Set the biscuits aside and use clean hands, clean utensils and a separate plate. Ideally, wait until serving time to open the pack.
PLUS also lists egg, milk, lactose and hazelnuts in its gluten-free chocolate chip biscuits. So a gluten-free claim doesn’t mean a biscuit is suitable for every guest.
Before a gaming night with others, ask about any other relevant allergens and check the label for each variety you choose.
Verkade presents Oaties as gluten-free oat biscuits for anyone looking for something crunchy instead of a spritz biscuit.
Schär offers several types of gluten-free biscuits if you’re not specifically looking for something similar to a spritz biscuit.
PLUS sells gluten-free chocolate chip biscuits in a 160 g pack, ideal if you’re looking for something to share.
Coconut macaroons are a different type of biscuit for anyone who prefers coconut to oats or a plain biscuit.
When shopping at Lidl, start with a specific product in the current range rather than relying on the shop name alone.
This Oaties variety contains milk chocolate and is a sweet alternative to spritz biscuits. If you have coeliac disease, also check the current gluten-free claim and how the biscuits are served.
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An oat biscuit with milk chocolate for anyone who’d like a sweet biscuit instead of a spritz biscuit while gaming. The pack contains 150 g. Joybuy describes this Oaties variety as made with gluten-free oats. Check the gluten-free claim and allergen information on the current packaging, especially if other food allergies are a concern.
Not all spritz biscuits are gluten-free: Albert Heijn lists wheat in its AH Spritsen. Assess any other variety by checking its own current packaging, not just the biscuit’s name or shape.
Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used when a food contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Oats in products labelled this way must also meet conditions designed to prevent contamination with wheat, rye and barley.
No. An oat biscuit is a different type of biscuit, even if it offers a crunchy alternative for your spritz-biscuit moment. Joybuy also notes that a small number of people with coeliac disease may be sensitive to avenin in oats. If you’re unsure about your personal tolerance, speak to your healthcare professional.
Keep the gluten-free biscuits separate and use clean hands, clean utensils and a separate plate. The Dutch Coeliac Association highlights the risk of cross-contamination from crumbs and shared kitchen utensils, among other things, so ideally wait until serving time to open the pack.
