A host welcoming a guest with coeliac disease
You want to offer a biscuit whose packaging clearly says it is gluten-free, and make sure it does not come into contact with gluten-containing crumbs before serving.
Who is this choice important for?
Someone organising a mixed buffet
You’re also serving regular biscuits or other gluten-containing snacks. In that case, it’s important to have a separate area, clean crockery and dedicated serving utensils, as the Dutch Coeliac Society advises to help prevent cross-contamination.
Someone planning the selection and portions
You want to choose in advance from options such as spiced biscuits, oat biscuits, rice biscuits and coconut macaroons, and compare the number of biscuits, pack size and any other allergens for each product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check the gluten-free labelling on the specific biscuits and look for any other allergens. Then decide how you’ll keep them separate from other snacks on the table, and how many you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging for the variant you’ve chosen and look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ labelling. A brand name or type of biscuit is not enough. | If a guest has coeliac disease, I want to check first that this particular biscuit is labelled gluten-free. For around 42% of consumers, checking the product comes first. |
| Serving separately | Check whether you can keep the packaging sealed until serving and use a clean, separate plate or pair of tongs. | When there are regular biscuits on the table, I want to stop crumbs or shared serving utensils from coming into contact with the gluten-free options. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this when serving. |
| Quantity and size | Compare the net weight and stated number of biscuits, and check whether they can be handed out individually. | When several guests are joining in, I want to know in advance whether there will be enough biscuits without putting them on a mixed platter. This is the first consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
| Other ingredients | Read the allergen list for the exact variant, especially if a guest also needs to avoid certain ingredients such as milk, egg, soya, nuts or oats. | If there’s another dietary restriction as well as coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely solely on the word ‘gluten-free’. Around 16% of consumers give this additional check top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a regular branded biscuit is gluten-free
A familiar brand name or type of biscuit tells you nothing about whether the specific pack is labelled gluten-free. The official description of the standard Lotus Biscoff biscuit does not confirm that it is.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a pack explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and keep the packaging while you serve the biscuits.
-
Putting gluten-free biscuits with regular biscuits
The Dutch Coeliac Society says that crumbs and shared equipment can lead to cross-contamination, even if the biscuit itself was bought as gluten-free.
Keep the pack sealed for as long as possible, and use a separate, clean plate or pair of tongs in its own area of the table.
-
Overlooking other allergens
Gluten-free does not mean a biscuit is free from other ingredients a guest needs to avoid. Albert Heijn lists egg and possible traces of sesame and nuts for AH Glutenvrij Speculaas; Joybuy’s product information for Verkade GV Oaties lists milk, soya and possible traces of nuts.
If necessary, check any additional dietary restrictions with your guest and read the allergen information on the packaging of the variant you choose.
-
Relying on a single product you found online
A product page does not guarantee that the biscuit will be available at your local shop when you need it.
Arrange the biscuits in advance and have a second option with explicit gluten-free labelling in reserve.
If your chosen variant is out of stock, an extra trip to the shops could take up valuable time.
Brands and product ranges to consider
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn lists products in this range including spiced biscuits, stroopwafels and other snacks, which you can compare by product in advance.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Speculaas 125 g is produced in a completely gluten-free environment. The product information also includes ingredients and allergens.
- According to Albert Heijn, these spiced biscuits contain egg and may contain sesame and nuts. Check the current packaging, as product information can change.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
Jumbo lists a range of gluten-free biscuits and snacks in this range, including spiced biscuits, stroopwafels and mini cakes.
- The different types of biscuit give you a choice of shapes and flavours for your party table.
- A certification mark on Jumbo ontbijtkoek does not automatically apply to the spiced biscuits or other products in the range. Check the packaging of your chosen product separately.
Verkade
Verkade GV Oaties Melkchocolade is an oat biscuit with milk chocolate, offering a different flavour and type of biscuit from options such as spiced biscuits.
- Joybuy’s product information for this specific variant lists gluten-free oat flakes and gluten-free oat flour.
- The same product information lists milk, soya and possible traces of nuts, and notes that some people with coeliac disease are sensitive to oat protein. If you’re unsure about oats, check with your guest whether this variant is suitable.
Heerlijck Banket
ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Kokosmakronen as six gluten-free coconut-flavoured biscuits in a 360 g pack.
- The stated pack size of six makes it easier to plan a separate selection of biscuits.
- Before choosing this variant for a guest, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack in store.
Lotus Biscoff
The official brand description presents the standard Lotus Biscoff as a caramelised biscuit, but does not confirm that this variant is labelled gluten-free.
- Don’t treat the standard variant as a gluten-free alternative for a guest with coeliac disease. Assess any other variant solely by checking the labelling on its own packaging.
Comparison of the biscuits mentioned
This comparison brings the products mentioned together, based on the gluten-free information for each specific product and the checks you still need to make. The order is not based on an external taste test, nor does it suggest that one biscuit is suitable for every guest.
| Position | Biscuit | Features | What to consider | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AH Glutenvrij Speculaas 125 g | Spiced biscuits; 125 g pack. | Albert Heijn lists production in a completely gluten-free environment, as well as an ingredients and allergens list. The biscuits contain egg and may contain sesame and nuts; check the current packaging. | Albert Heijn |
| 2 | Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas 125 g | Gluten-free spiced biscuits; 125 g pack. | Jumbo includes these spiced biscuits in its gluten-free range. Check the information on this pack itself; a certification mark on another Jumbo variant does not confirm that this product is gluten-free. | Jumbo |
| 3 | Verkade GV Oaties Melkchocolade 150 g | Oat biscuits with milk chocolate; 150 g pack. | Joybuy’s product information lists this variant as gluten-free, but also mentions milk, soya, possible traces of nuts and the possibility of individual sensitivity to oat protein. Check the packaging and, if you’re unsure about oats, discuss it with your guest. | Joybuy |
| 4 | Trader Joe's Rice Cookies 175 g | Gluten-free rice biscuits; 175 g pack. | ALDI describes these rice biscuits as gluten-free. Check the packaging of the product you buy for other ingredients and allergens. | ALDI |
Biscuits on Joybuy
If you’re considering a gluten-free oat biscuit with milk chocolate for your garden party, you could take a look at this variant. Check the current packaging before serving and bear in mind any additional dietary restrictions your guest may have.
No image available
Verkade GV Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g
An option if you’re looking for an oat biscuit with milk chocolate to serve as part of a separate gluten-free selection. The pack contains 150 g; Joybuy’s product information lists the variant as gluten-free and mentions milk, soya and possible traces of nuts. Check the current packaging and, if you’re unsure about oats, ask your guest whether this biscuit is suitable.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a pack of biscuits?
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food labelled ‘gluten-free’ must not contain more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check for this labelling on the packaging of the specific biscuit; ‘wheat-free’ or a familiar product name is not the same thing.
Can gluten-free and regular biscuits be served on the same party table?
Yes, as long as you prevent the gluten-free biscuits from coming into contact with gluten-containing crumbs, hands or serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends using clean equipment and setting aside a separate area of the table; keep the gluten-free packaging sealed for as long as possible.
Do I need to check the packaging if I’ve already looked at the ingredients online?
Yes. Check the current packaging of the variant you’re serving. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information can change; checking is also important if a guest needs to avoid ingredients other than gluten.
How can I avoid my chosen biscuits being unavailable on the day of the party?
Arrange the biscuits in advance and have a second product explicitly labelled gluten-free in reserve. Check the packaging and any other allergens for the substitute too, rather than relying solely on a range you looked at earlier.