Who is this relevant to?

Runners with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free and want to avoid contact with crumbs containing gluten when carrying and eating it.

Runners who want to plan their portions

You want to take a biscuit with you for a long training session and factor the carbohydrates in the portion you actually eat into your overall nutrition plan.

Shoppers who need to check for other ingredients

As well as gluten, you may need to look out for ingredients such as milk, soya, nuts or oats. A gluten-free label doesn’t answer these separate questions.

What should you look for?

For runners with coeliac disease, checking the gluten-free label on the current packaging comes first. You can then compare portion size, carbohydrates and any other allergens.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free labelling Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging or the Crossed Grain trademark. Keep the biscuit away from crumbs containing gluten. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a product name alone or an old picture of the packaging. For an estimated 42% of these consumers, certainty about gluten and cross-contamination comes first.
Carbohydrates and portion size Check the carbohydrates per portion, not just per 100 g, and consider how much you’ll actually take with you. On a long run, I want to know how the portion I’ve packed fits into my nutrition plan. Around 33% of consumers prioritise planning their portion and its carbohydrates.
Other ingredients Read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement; check lactose and milk ingredients separately. If I need to avoid another ingredient as well as gluten, I don’t want to rely on the gluten-free label alone. For roughly 25% of consumers, these additional ingredients are the first thing they consider.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a poorly labelled biscuit is gluten-free

    Regular biscuits may contain cereals with gluten. For someone with coeliac disease, contact with crumbs containing gluten is also something to watch out for.

    Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain trademark, and keep the biscuit separate from products containing gluten.

  • Mistaking the nutritional values per 100 g for those in one portion

    A biscuit or portion to take with you usually weighs less than 100 g. The amount of carbohydrates you actually eat could therefore be quite different from the figure per 100 g.

    Base your calculations on the portion you’re taking, include other food and drink in your plan, and try out your chosen combination during training.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens

    The gluten-free biscuits mentioned contain different ingredients and allergens, including milk, soya, egg, almond and wheat. A lactose-free label doesn’t automatically mean a product is free from milk ingredients either.

    For each product, check the ingredients and the allergen and potential traces information on the current packaging.

  • Assuming every oat biscuit is suitable for coeliac disease

    Oats may come into contact with cereals containing gluten during growing or processing. So the word ‘oats’ on its own isn’t enough to tell you.

    Only choose an oat biscuit if the current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain trademark.

Brands and ranges to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Under this name, Albert Heijn lists products including almond biscuits in a 45 g pack.

  • According to the product page, these almond biscuits are made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • The same product information lists egg, soya, almond and wheat as allergens. So gluten-free doesn’t replace checking for a wheat or nut allergy.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

This Jumbo range includes gluten-free speculaas, stroopwafels and milk chocolate digestives.

  • The products listed come in different sizes, giving you options to compare by portion and flavour.
  • Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values vary by product, so always check the individual packaging.

Schär

According to the product information listed by Jumbo, Schär Choco Chip Cookies are gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • Jumbo lists 6.8 g of carbohydrates per 11 g biscuit and three biscuits per pack, so you can work out how much to take with you.
  • The product contains soya. And lactose-free doesn’t mean you no longer need to check for other allergens.

Céréal

Jumbo lists gluten-free and lactose-free Céréal chocolate biscuits made with maize, teff and rice flour.

  • According to Jumbo, the stated 17 g portion contains 11 g of carbohydrates.
  • The product information lists soya and says the biscuits may also contain milk, egg, nuts and sesame, among other ingredients. Check the packaging if you need to avoid any of these.

Products on Joybuy

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can a gluten-free biscuit be my only fuel on a long run?

Don’t assume it can without doing the maths. In 2022, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute outlined a general range of 30–90 g of carbohydrates per hour for exercise lasting longer than 60 minutes. According to the product information cited, a 30 g portion of Twix Chocolate & caramel cookies gluten free contains around 18.3 g of carbohydrates, while a 17 g portion of Céréal contains 11 g. Compare what you actually eat with your overall plan, and try that plan out during training.

How can I tell if a biscuit is gluten-free for someone with coeliac disease?

Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging or the Crossed Grain trademark, which the Voedingscentrum also recommends as a way to identify gluten-free products. Also read the ingredients and allergen information, and avoid contact with crumbs containing gluten when storing or eating the biscuit.

Is every oat biscuit suitable for coeliac disease?

No. The presence of oats alone isn’t enough to tell you. Oats may come into contact with cereals containing gluten, so even with oat biscuits, check that the current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain trademark.

Does lactose-free also mean free from milk ingredients?

No. Jumbo describes the Céréal chocolate biscuits as lactose-free, but according to the product information they may contain milk. If milk ingredients are relevant to you, check the allergen and traces information separately.