Who is this choice relevant for?

Festival-goer with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a pre-packed chocolate biscuit whose gluten-free label and ingredients you can check before you set off.

Camper using a shared eating area

You store or eat your biscuits near snacks containing gluten. It’s important to keep your pack separate and avoid contact with crumbs and shared cutlery.

Shopper keeping an eye on other allergens too

As well as gluten, you may need to avoid ingredients such as milk, egg, soya or nuts. The allergens listed vary from one chocolate biscuit to another.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the gluten-free label, then check for any other allergens and think about how you’ll keep the pack clean and sealed in a shared eating area. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may only be used if the food, as sold to the final consumer, contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free label Read the label and ingredients list on the pack you’re taking with you; a biscuit made with wheat flour is not a gluten-free alternative. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a biscuit’s name or appearance. That’s why demonstrably gluten-free products are a top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Other allergens Check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements for the specific variety. If I also need to avoid another ingredient, a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough. Around 29% of consumers prioritise checking for additional allergens.
Packaging and shared use Choose an undamaged pack and check how to store the product after opening. At a shared campsite, I want to keep my biscuits separate from snacks containing gluten and from crumbs. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers.
Availability before you set off Check in good time whether you can buy a variety that meets your needs, and check the pack again when you buy it. If I don’t want to rely on finding a particular shop along the way, I’d rather sort out my supplies in advance. This matters most to around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Judging a regular biscuit by its appearance or portion pack

    According to Lotus Bakeries, Lotus Biscoff Original contains wheat flour. An individual portion pack doesn’t change the ingredients.

    If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, look for the gluten-free label on the pack you choose and read the ingredients list.

  • Overlooking other allergens once you see ‘gluten-free’

    Product information from Albert Heijn, Schär and Céréal shows that gluten-free chocolate biscuits can vary in their milk, egg, soya and nut content, among other things.

    Check the allergen information on every pack, even if you already know the product range.

  • Leaving an opened pack on a shared table

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, crumbs can transfer gluten to food that should remain gluten-free.

    Keep your biscuits separate, use clean cutlery and reseal the pack after use.

  • Waiting until you’re on the road to buy a specific variety

    With shop ranges changing, it can be difficult to rely on finding one particular gluten-free chocolate biscuit.

    Choose and buy a suitable variety in good time, and check the packaging when you buy it.

Relevant brands and product ranges

Verkade

Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free oat biscuits with milk chocolate.

  • The product information lists gluten-free oat flakes and gluten-free oat flour.
  • The variety described contains milk and soya, and may contain nuts. If you’re sensitive to oats, check whether this variety meets your personal dietary requirements.

AH Glutenvrij

The Chocolate Chip Cookies are Albert Heijn’s own-brand gluten-free variety.

  • Albert Heijn says the biscuits are produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • The product information lists egg, milk/lactose and hazelnut.

Schär

Schär describes Choco Chip Cookies as gluten-free, wheat-free chocolate biscuits.

  • According to the product information, the variety described is also lactose-free.
  • The product information lists soya; lactose-free does not mean free from other allergens.

Céréal

Jumbo describes Céréal’s 150 g chocolate biscuits as gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • These claims are relevant if you need to avoid lactose as well as gluten.
  • The product information lists soya and says the biscuits may contain, among other things, egg, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original is an example of a regular biscuit that shouldn’t be treated as a gluten-free alternative.

  • The ingredients list from Lotus Bakeries includes wheat flour. If you have coeliac disease, choose a separate product with a gluten-free label.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose a biscuit with no visible wheat if it doesn’t say ‘gluten-free’?

If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, choose a chocolate biscuit with a gluten-free label on the current packaging and check the ingredients too. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, products using this label may contain no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer; you can’t tell from a biscuit’s appearance.

Can a gluten-free biscuit come into contact with gluten at a campsite?

Yes, if it comes into contact with crumbs from food containing gluten, for example. The Dutch Coeliac Association highlights this risk of cross-contamination. Store the pack separately, use clean cutlery and reseal it after opening.

Is a lactose-free chocolate biscuit also free from other allergens?

No. Lactose-free says nothing about other allergens. The product information for Céréal gluten-free and lactose-free chocolate biscuits lists soya and says they may contain, among other things, egg, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin. So always check the information on the pack for your chosen variety.

How should I store Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate in a tent or rucksack?

Store Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate according to the product instructions: keep it cool and dry, out of direct sunlight and away from heat and moisture. Seal the pack securely after opening and follow the instructions on the pack you take with you.