If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, choose biscuits whose current packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’, and check for other allergens too. Then consider flavour, portions and convenient packaging. These features don’t make an ordinary wheat biscuit suitable or prevent cross-contamination when serving.
You want to be sure the biscuits you choose are labelled gluten-free, and serve them separately from snacks containing gluten. The Voedingscentrum recommends checking the label when you buy them.
You’re looking for a suitable biscuit shape and enough portions for your guests. Albert Heijn and Jumbo stock a range of gluten-free biscuits, but the packaging of the specific product you choose is what matters.
If a guest has an allergy to nuts or soya, for example, ‘gluten-free’ isn’t the only thing to check. Read the allergen information for the exact flavour and packaging.
If you’re catering for someone with coeliac disease, start by checking for a gluten-free label on the packaging. Then compare allergens and the number of portions. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ for the final consumer if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
| What to check | What to look for when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ and keep the biscuits separate from snacks containing gluten when serving. | If I’m serving biscuits to someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a name that simply sounds wheat-free or a plate that also has ordinary biscuits on it. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free suitability comes first. |
| Portions and biscuit shape | Check the number of biscuits and the pack size. Choose a shape that works for handing out or serving on the table. | When I’m bringing treats for a group, I want to know I have enough biscuits without having to split portions as I hand them out. For around 30% of consumers, having enough to share is their main concern. |
| Other allergens | Read the allergen information for the exact product, even if it’s labelled gluten-free. | If a guest also has a food allergy, I want to know which ingredients or potential allergens are listed for that particular biscuit. Around 20% of consumers prioritise these additional checks. |
Albert Heijn’s product information for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL lists wheat flour, wheat and cereals containing gluten. A convenient individually wrapped portion doesn’t change that.
Keep this biscuit separate, and choose a separate product with a gluten-free label on the packaging for your guest with coeliac disease.
A gluten-free biscuit may still contain ingredients that matter to another guest. For example, Albert Heijn lists oats and hazelnuts in AH Glutenvrij Haverkoekjes hazelnoot.
Check the allergen information for each flavour and keep treats for guests with different allergies clearly separate.
An online selection doesn’t tell you which biscuits will be available when you shop. ALDI warns that its coconut macaroons, which are promotional items, may sell out quickly.
Check what’s available shortly before King’s Day, and read the packaging of the biscuits you choose again when you buy them.
Albert Heijn’s AH Glutenvrij range includes filled biscuits, chocolate chip cookies, pink iced cakes and oat biscuits.
Jumbo’s range includes gluten-free spiced biscuits, syrup waffles and digestives.
An option if you’re looking for a biscuit specifically labelled gluten-free: Jumbo describes Consenza Rozijn-Cranberry Koekjes as ‘gluten-free (<20 ppm)’.
Jumbo describes Schär Choco Chip Cookies as gluten-free biscuits with chocolate chips.
ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket’s coconut macaroons as six gluten-free biscuits in a 360 g pack.
No. Don’t choose biscuits based on that label alone. For someone with coeliac disease, look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and check the label, as the Voedingscentrum advises.
Yes. A biscuit containing oats can be labelled gluten-free if it meets the applicable requirements. European rules also set conditions for oats in foods labelled gluten-free, so check the label and ingredients on the pack you choose.
No, that isn’t guaranteed by a gluten-free label. Albert Heijn lists hazelnuts in AH Glutenvrij Haverkoekjes hazelnoot, while the product information for Schär Choco Chip Cookies lists soya. Always read the allergen information for the exact product.
Put the gluten-free biscuits on a separate plate and use separate or clean serving utensils to prevent crumbs from ordinary snacks getting onto them. The Voedingscentrum stresses the importance of avoiding gluten for people with coeliac disease.
Check the packaging of the product you actually buy too. Albert Heijn says that ingredient and allergen information can change, so read the label again before serving the biscuits.
