If a child with coeliac disease is eating at the school fair, choose biscuits clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check the label on the specific pack. Also look for any other relevant allergens, and keep the biscuits separate from gluten-containing crumbs while storing and serving them. If you’re baking them yourself, take extra care to prevent cross-contamination.
You’re looking for a treat that’s clearly labelled gluten-free and can be kept separate from gluten-containing products during preparation and serving. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that cross-contamination with gluten can have consequences for people with coeliac disease.
In that case, checking that a product is gluten-free is only the first step. You’ll also want to know what other ingredients and warnings appear on the packaging, so you can discuss them with the parent or school contact.
You’re looking for a packaged option whose label can stay with the biscuits. Check how many biscuits are in the pack you choose and how you can serve them without placing them among regular biscuits.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and thinking about how you’ll store and serve the biscuits. Then check for other allergens, and choose a pack that suits the way they’ll be handed out.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and keeping biscuits separate | Check that the pack is labelled ‘gluten-free’. Before serving, decide how you’ll keep the biscuits separate from gluten-containing crumbs and utensils. | If a child with coeliac disease is eating, I want to keep the biscuits in identifiable packaging and avoid contact with regular baked goods. Roughly 42% of consumers put this gluten check first. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients and information about allergens present and possible traces on the exact pack. Discuss any relevant warnings with the parent or school contact. | If I also need to take another allergy or dietary requirement into account, I can’t rely on ‘gluten-free’ alone. For around 33% of consumers, this additional check is the top priority. |
| Serving and availability | Compare the number of biscuits, the type of packaging and current availability; don’t estimate the number of portions to hand out from the weight alone. | For a busy serving table, I want to know in advance how many biscuits I can offer and how to keep the label with them. For around 25% of consumers, practical planning comes first. |
That label doesn’t mean a product is free from allergens such as almonds, eggs, milk or soya. The AH almond biscuits we looked at list almonds, eggs and soya; the Céréal chocolate biscuits list soya.
After checking the gluten-free label, check for all allergens relevant to the child, including warnings about possible traces. If in doubt, speak to the parent or the designated school contact.
The Dutch Coeliac Society says gluten can get into a gluten-free product through cross-contamination. At a school fair, remember to consider shared serving plates, cutlery and crumbs on the table, too.
If you’re baking the biscuits yourself, use a clean work surface and clean utensils, and keep them in separate packaging. If you can’t ensure they stay separate, an unopened pack with clear labelling is easier to identify and keep apart.
The ingredients in a product you’ve chosen may change. So a product page you looked at earlier is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’ll actually be handing out.
Check the physical packaging again before buying and serving, and keep it with the biscuits while they’re being offered.
Under this label, Albert Heijn offers products including gluten-free almond biscuits in a 45 g pack.
This Jumbo range includes a variety of treats, such as speculaas, digestives, syrup waffles and mini cakes.
The 150 g chocolate biscuits we looked at are described by Jumbo as gluten-free and lactose-free.
Verkade offers gluten-free Oaties, including a milk chocolate variety.
This curated selection groups four options according to what you’re looking for: first, gluten-free and lactose-free biscuits; then a gluten-free oat biscuit, a small AH pack and speculaas from the Jumbo range. The numbers aren’t a ranking of quality or popularity. The right option depends on the label, the allergens involved and how the biscuits will be served at school.
| Number | Product | Features | Why it’s included | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Céréal gluten-free and lactose-free chocolate biscuits 150 g | Gluten-free and lactose-free; contains soya. May contain traces of eggs, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin. | Jumbo describes the product with both of these claims. Check for other allergens before choosing these biscuits for a child. | Jumbo |
| 2 | Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g | Gluten-free oats; lists milk and soya and may contain traces of nuts. | Joybuy’s product information describes the oats as gluten-free. If you’re unsure about oats, discuss it with the parent or healthcare professional, and check the current packaging. | Joybuy |
| 3 | AH Gluten-free Almond Biscuits 45 g | According to Albert Heijn, made in a completely gluten-free environment; contains almonds, eggs and soya. | The 45 g pack is a smaller option to consider, provided the allergens listed are suitable for the child in question. | Albert Heijn |
| 4 | Jumbo Lekker Vrij Gluten-free Speculaas 125 g | 125 g of speculaas from Jumbo’s gluten-free biscuit range. | Another type of biscuit for the serving table. Check the specific pack for other allergens and the number of biscuits. | Jumbo |
This packaged biscuit option is labelled gluten-free. For the school fair, check the pack for other allergens and keep the biscuits separate from gluten-containing products while serving them.
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A packaged biscuit option to consider if you’re looking for gluten-free biscuits for the school fair.
The product information describes the oats as gluten-free and lists a pack size of 150 g. It lists milk and soya and warns of possible traces of nuts; check the label on the current pack.
Before buying, check how many biscuits are in the pack and whether they’re individually wrapped, if that’s important for serving. If you’re unsure about oats, discuss it with the parent or healthcare professional.
Under EU Regulation 828/2014, a food sold to the final consumer may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check for this label on the pack of biscuits you choose for the school fair.
No. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for the words ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free symbol on the label. The absence of an obvious wheat ingredient alone doesn’t provide the same assurance.
Prepare and package them separately from gluten-containing baked goods, using clean hands, a clean work surface and clean utensils. Then store them in clearly identifiable packaging so they don’t come into contact with crumbs or shared cutlery when they’re handed out.
Yes. Gluten-free biscuits may still contain other allergens. Read the ingredients and warnings on the current pack, and if a child has a known allergy, check with their parent or the school contact to find out which biscuits are suitable.
