For visitors with coeliac disease, choose a biscuit whose packaging currently identifies it as gluten-free, provided you store and serve it separately from products containing gluten. Both specialist brands and gluten-free own-brand biscuits may be suitable; standard Lotus Biscoff contains wheat and is not a gluten-free alternative. If you sell biscuits loose, make information about the allergens present available to visitors before they buy.
You want to offer a biscuit clearly labelled as gluten-free and avoid contact with crumbs from other products. The Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre) points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
You’re looking for something to offer alongside your Dutch doughnuts, so visitors can check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging themselves. Even then, it’s important to keep the gluten-free biscuits in a separate place.
You want to choose from different types of biscuits, but check the gluten-free labelling, allergens and availability on each pack you buy. A gluten-free product range or supermarket category doesn’t tell you everything about an individual biscuit.
First, choose a specific biscuit labelled as gluten-free. Then decide how to store and serve it separately at a stall where products containing gluten may also be sold.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ labelling or the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the other allergens too. | For visitors with coeliac disease, I want a biscuit with gluten-free labelling on the pack. Around 50% of consumers say confirmed gluten-free status is their main requirement. |
| Packaging and serving | Keep stock and serving utensils separate. If you sell biscuits loose, make allergen information available before purchase. | At a busy stall, I want to be able to serve a biscuit without it coming into contact with other products or leaving allergens unclear. For around 30% of consumers, how the product is served is their main concern. |
| Type of biscuit and availability | Choose a suitable type of biscuit and check the specific pack and local stock when you buy it. | If I regularly buy biscuits for the stall, I want a type I can actually find and check again. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
Vegan labelling tells you nothing about gluten. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour and gluten in standard Lotus Biscoff Speculoos.
Don’t offer this biscuit as a gluten-free option, and keep it separate from biscuits intended for visitors with coeliac disease.
The Voedingscentrum says that even a stray crumb can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease. Contact with Dutch doughnuts, biscuits or shared utensils containing gluten is therefore something to take seriously.
Store and display gluten-free biscuits separately, and use separate, clean utensils when serving them.
A gluten-free biscuit may contain other allergens too. For example, product information for the biscuits discussed here lists ingredients such as soya, milk, egg or nuts, depending on the product.
Read the allergen information on the exact pack you’ve chosen, and make sure visitors can access it before buying if you sell the biscuits loose.
ALDI Nederland warns that special-buy products can sell out quickly. So a trip to the shop doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to buy the same biscuit when you need it.
Check availability before your selling date, and read the packaging of your chosen product again every time you restock.
Specialist brand with products including Choco Chip Cookies, which Jumbo labels as gluten-free.
Specialist gluten-free brand with products including raisin and cranberry biscuits.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range, with several types of gluten-free biscuits.
Jumbo’s own-brand range, including gluten-free speculaas, syrup waffles and digestives.
A place to look for specific products labelled as gluten-free by ALDI Nederland, including Coconut Macaroons and Rice Cookies.
A place to consider a specific biscuit only if its current packaging labels it as gluten-free.
Standard speculoos for visitors who don’t need a gluten-free option, not an alternative for visitors with coeliac disease.
Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ labelling or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients and other allergens too. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
No. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour and gluten in Original Speculoos; vegan labelling doesn’t change that.
If you sell food loose, visitors must be able to get information about the allergens it contains before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that for cereals containing gluten, you must also name the specific cereal. You can provide this information in writing, electronically or, subject to certain conditions, verbally.
Only if you can prevent contact with products containing gluten and their crumbs. The Voedingscentrum warns that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease, so store and serve the biscuit separately using separate, clean utensils.
No. Check the specific pack you’re buying. Look for gluten-free labelling, ingredients and allergens, and make sure that type of biscuit will be available when you need it.
