If you have coeliac disease and want to take a chocolate biscuit with you for a quick breakfast, first choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current packaging. Then compare the other allergens and the practical portion size; a chocolate coating does not make a biscuit gluten-free. Lotus Speculoos with chocolate is not suitable for this choice, as its ingredients include wheat flour.
You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit to eat on the go. An explicit gluten-free claim and a check of the current ingredients and allergen information are essential first steps, even if the biscuit doesn’t look as though it contains wheat.
As well as gluten, you may need to look out for milk, lactose, egg, hazelnut, soya or warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. Gluten-free chocolate biscuits can differ in these respects.
You want to be able to work out how many biscuits to take and whether the pack fits into your morning routine. So check the net weight and, where stated, the number of biscuits or portions.
For people with coeliac disease, an explicit gluten-free claim remains essential; the other considerations help them choose the right biscuit for their individual needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free for coeliac disease | Read the gluten-free claim, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to judge whether a chocolate biscuit is suitable by its appearance. Around 42% of consumers would make checking for a gluten-free claim their top priority when buying. |
| Taking it with you and portioning | Compare the net weight and the stated number of biscuits or portions. | When I’m on the go, I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take, without needing the whole pack. For around 33% of consumers, this convenience when portioning would matter most. |
| Chocolate and texture | Compare the type of chocolate and, if stated, the percentage of chocolate. | If several biscuits meet my gluten-free requirements, I may decide based on whether I prefer chocolate chips or a chocolate coating. For around 17% of consumers, this would be the main factor in their final choice. |
| Also lactose-free | Check both claims separately and read all the allergen information too. | I need my food to be both gluten-free and lactose-free, so I can’t rely on just one of those labels. For around 8% of consumers, this additional lactose-free requirement would come first. |
According to Lotus, Lotus Speculoos with chocolate contains wheat flour; the chocolate coating does not change the fact that it contains gluten.
If you have coeliac disease, look for an explicit gluten-free claim and read the ingredients on the packaging, even for familiar chocolate varieties.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies contain egg, milk and hazelnut, among other ingredients. Other gluten-free chocolate options may contain different allergens or carry different warnings.
Check all the allergen information, including any warning about possible traces, before choosing a biscuit.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. So a product name you’ve checked before is no substitute for reading the label on the pack you’re buying now.
Read the packaging again and, if in doubt, check the latest safety warnings for the specific product.
Lidl describes its additional gluten-free products as a range that isn’t always available. This means you can’t necessarily rely on finding the same option the next time you shop.
For mornings on the go, keep another product that you’ve already checked on the label in mind as an alternative.
Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate is an oat biscuit that the brand labels gluten-free.
AH Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies is a 160 g chocolate biscuit with milk chocolate chips and hazelnut.
Jumbo has a gluten-free biscuits and snacks category that includes chocolate options, including products from Schär and Céréal.
Lotus Speculoos with chocolate is a useful example of a product that isn’t suitable for this gluten-free choice.
This product selection features a gluten-free oat biscuit with milk chocolate that you could consider for a quick bite on the go. Whether it’s suitable also depends on your other allergen requirements and the packaging you receive.
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An option if you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with an explicit gluten-free claim and oats, milk and soya suit your needs.
According to the product information, the oat biscuit contains 25% milk chocolate. The pack contains 150 g.
The product contains milk and soya and may contain nuts. Before eating, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging; also consider whether it’s easy to take the portion you want with you.
No. According to the Dutch product information, this specific Lotus variety contains wheat flour and lists gluten as a present allergen. For this need, choose a product with an explicit gluten-free claim and check the label.
No. Having oats in the product name doesn’t automatically make a biscuit unsuitable, but ordinary oats aren’t a substitute for a gluten-free claim either. Verkade states that Oaties Milk Chocolate contains gluten-free oats; check the current packaging and consider whether oats are suitable for you.
No. Check for gluten-free and lactose-free claims separately. According to Albert Heijn, AH Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookies contain milk and lactose; Schär Choco Chip Cookies and Céréal Gluten-free & Lactose-free Chocolate Biscuits are described as lactose-free, but you should still check their other allergen information.
Before eating the product, read the current packaging of the product you’ve bought. Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change; if there’s a difference, don’t rely solely on the online description.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the gluten-free label must meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 828/2014. This claim doesn’t remove the need to check the current packaging for other allergens.
