Don’t pack ordinary canoe cakes for a child with coeliac disease: the Albert Heijn and Jumbo varieties list gluten and wheat. If you’re looking for a cake-like alternative, consider a cake explicitly labelled gluten-free, such as AH Glutenvrij Cake, provided the other allergens are also suitable. Check the current packaging carefully for oat biscuits, and avoid contact with gluten-containing food while packing.
For a child with coeliac disease, ordinary canoe cakes containing wheat or gluten are not suitable. The Dutch Coeliac Society also points out that crumbs and shared utensils can contaminate gluten-free food.
If the shape of the snack matters, a cake labelled gluten-free is a more obvious choice than an oat biscuit. AH Glutenvrij Cake is divided into four 45 g portions; check the allergens too.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy to, for example, egg, soya or nuts. So read the full allergen information on the packaging you’ll be sending to school.
Start with the gluten-free label and the ingredients list. Then compare the type of snack and check separately which other allergens are relevant to your child.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for the gluten-free label on the current packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wheat or gluten in their ordinary canoe cakes. | When I’m packing for a child with coeliac disease, I don’t want to put an ordinary wheat-containing canoe cake in their lunchbox; gluten-free suitability is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Shape and portability | Compare cakes with biscuits, and check the portion size and packaging. According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Cake contains four 45 g portions. | I’m looking for a familiar, cake-like snack that can be packed separately for school; around 30% of consumers give this practical product format top priority. |
| Other allergens | As well as checking the gluten-free label, read the information on other allergens and any warnings about possible traces. AH Glutenvrij Cake contains egg and may contain soya, almond and hazelnut. | If egg or nuts also need to be avoided, the gluten-free label alone isn’t enough; additional allergens are the main selection criterion for around 20% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn and Jumbo canoe cakes list gluten and wheat. A similar shape doesn’t make them suitable for a child with coeliac disease.
Choose based on the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, not the product name.
A gluten-free product may still contain other allergens. AH Glutenvrij Cake, for example, contains egg and may contain soya, almond and hazelnut.
Check the full allergen information and ask the school what arrangements it has for packed lunches.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs, hands and shared kitchen utensils can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.
Wash your hands, use clean utensils and, if possible, keep the gluten-free product wrapped until it’s time to eat.
Verkade describes Oaties as gluten-free, while the Joybuy product information also says ‘Contains: gluten (oats)’. This combination doesn’t give you a clear basis for packing the product for a child with coeliac disease.
Check the current physical packaging and, if you’re still unsure, ask the manufacturer for clarification before choosing the product.
Relevant if you’re looking for a cake-like gluten-free alternative, and also useful for comparing against ordinary canoe cakes.
According to Verkade, Oaties are gluten-free oat biscuits for anyone looking for a biscuit rather than a small cake.
A different kind of sweet snack: Albert Heijn lists Consenza Crispy wafers in its gluten-free sweet snacks and cakes category.
Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter are a familiar point of comparison, not a gluten-free alternative.
The Albert Heijn and Jumbo canoe cakes reviewed are not gluten-free: their product information lists gluten and wheat. So don’t choose these varieties for a child with coeliac disease.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, the label means that a product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. For a school lunchbox, also check the other allergens on the current packaging.
AH Glutenvrij Cake is a cake-like alternative labelled gluten-free, not a canoe cake. According to Albert Heijn, it is made in a completely gluten-free environment; however, it contains egg and may contain soya, almond and hazelnut.
Wash your hands, use clean utensils and, if possible, keep the gluten-free snack wrapped until it’s time to eat. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that crumbs and shared equipment can transfer gluten.
No. If you’re packing for a child with coeliac disease, check the current physical packaging first. Verkade describes Oaties as gluten-free, but the Joybuy product information also says ‘Contains: gluten (oats)’. Ask the manufacturer for clarification if the label still raises questions.
