If you have coeliac disease, first choose biscuits whose current packaging says ‘gluten-free’ or displays the Crossed Grain symbol. Then decide which type and pack size will suit your student room. In a shared kitchen, it’s also important to think about how you store the biscuits and keep them away from crumbs from other products. If you have any other allergies or intolerances, always check the information for the exact product variant.
You’re looking for biscuits clearly labelled gluten-free and want to prevent crumbs from ordinary bread and biscuits getting onto them during storage or serving. The Dutch Coeliac Association highlights both checking the label and avoiding cross-contamination when handling food.
After moving in, you want to store biscuits without a large pack taking up your limited cupboard space. Compare pack sizes and choose one you can store securely once opened.
As well as gluten, you may also need to avoid lactose or a particular allergen. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or allergens the product contains, so check the full label.
Start by checking the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then consider how you’ll store the biscuits in a shared kitchen and whether you need to check for any other ingredients.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and cross-contamination | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. When storing and serving the biscuits, keep them away from crumbs from products containing gluten. | If I have coeliac disease and share a kitchen, I want to be able to check that the biscuits are gluten-free and prevent crumbs getting onto them at home. Around 50% of consumers put this reassurance first. |
| Packaging and storage | Compare the pack sizes and check whether you can reseal the packaging securely or store the biscuits separately once opened. | With limited cupboard space, I want to keep my supplies organised and make sure they don’t end up among my housemates’ ordinary biscuits. For around 30% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
| Other allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact product variant you’ve chosen. | If I also need to avoid lactose or another allergen, a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough to help me choose. This additional check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
‘Wheat-free’ isn’t the same as a gluten-free label on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. A familiar brand name doesn’t tell you about every product from that brand either: for example, the Lotus Biscoff spread described by Makro Netherlands contains wheat flour.
Check the current gluten-free label and ingredients list on the biscuits you’re actually buying, rather than relying on a different variant or another product from the same brand.
Gluten-free biscuits may still contain other ingredients that matter to you. A separate lactose-free label also doesn’t automatically answer questions about ingredients such as soya, milk or nuts.
Before deciding, read the allergen information and any warnings for the exact flavour and pack you’re considering.
Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergen information can change. On 9 September 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also issued a warning about AH Glutenvrij Speculaasbrok with a best-before date of 26-3-2027: almonds may not be listed on the label for that specific batch.
Check the packaging every time you buy. If you have a relevant allergy, also look out for warnings relating to the product and best-before date of the pack you have.
Albert Heijn’s range includes gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and almond biscuits.
Jumbo’s Lekker Vrij range includes gluten-free biscuits, including speculaas.
Jumbo lists Schär Choco Chip Cookies as gluten-free biscuits.
Jumbo describes its 150 g Céréal chocolate biscuits as gluten-free and lactose-free.
Lotus Biscoff is a familiar speculaas name, but the name alone doesn’t mean a product is gluten-free.
A current gluten-free label is the starting point when choosing products for coeliac disease; the Dutch Coeliac Association also identifies the Crossed Grain symbol as a useful indicator. Check the exact product variant you’re buying, then keep it away from crumbs from products containing gluten in your shared kitchen.
Keep them sealed and separate from ordinary biscuits and bread to prevent crumbs getting onto them. The Dutch Coeliac Association explains how shared surfaces can cause cross-contamination, so use clean or separate utensils and equipment when serving the biscuits.
No. The name ‘oat biscuits’ isn’t enough to know that they’re gluten-free. Look for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging.
The warning issued by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority on 9 September 2026 concerns AH Glutenvrij Speculaasbrok with a best-before date of 26-3-2027, as almonds may not be listed on the label. The warning applies to that specific batch, not all AH Glutenvrij products.
