If you have coeliac disease, first choose a chocolate biscuit whose current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’, then check the ingredients and other allergens. Jumbo lists a crossed-grain symbol for Lekker Vrij Digestives Melkchocolade; Albert Heijn says its Glutenvrij Chocolate Chip Cookies are made in a completely gluten-free environment. If you also need to avoid lactose, Céréal and Schär biscuits sold as lactose-free are options to look into, but their other allergens and the packaging for taking them on the go still matter.
Before you set off, you’ll want to be able to check the packaging and see that a chocolate biscuit is explicitly sold as gluten-free. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim ‘gluten-free’ may be used when the food as sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Also check the ingredients and allergens in the variant you choose.
You’re looking for a biscuit labelled as meeting both requirements. Jumbo sells Céréal chocolate biscuits as gluten-free and lactose-free, and lists Schär Choco Chip Cookies as lactose-free. Also check the other allergens and any warnings on the packaging.
You want portions that are easy to take on a day out, without skipping the checks for a gluten-free claim and allergens. Jumbo says Schär Choco Chip Cookies come in packs of three biscuits; with chocolate biscuits, also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Start by checking for a gluten-free claim and any other allergen restrictions you need to consider. Then compare the type of biscuit, portion sizes and storage advice for your holiday plans.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging; don’t infer it from the product name or because the name doesn’t mention wheat. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to see that this specific pack is sold as gluten-free. An estimated 39% of consumers put this check first. |
| Other allergens and lactose | Read the allergen information and ‘may contain’ warnings for the variant you’ve chosen; check for a separate lactose-free claim if you need one. | If I need to avoid another allergen or lactose as well as gluten, a gluten-free biscuit may still not be suitable. This combination is the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
| Taking them with you and storage | Check the number of individual packs or portions and follow the storage advice for chocolate biscuits. | For a day out, I want to be able to take a portion with me and store the rest as directed. This convenience comes first for around 23% of consumers. |
| Type of biscuit | Among products that meet your requirements, compare a digestive, chocolate chip cookie or oat biscuit, and check the listed ingredients. | Once my gluten-free and other requirements are covered, my main choice is between the types of biscuit and their ingredients. This is the key consideration for an estimated 15% of consumers. |
A gluten-free chocolate biscuit may still contain milk, oats, soya, egg or nuts, or carry a warning about the possible presence of allergens. This means it may still be unsuitable if you have another dietary restriction.
Check both the gluten-free claim and the full allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.
A brand name or a general gluten-free range doesn’t tell you whether a particular chocolate biscuit is gluten-free. This also applies when choosing a holiday biscuit from Lotus, Lidl or ALDI.
Only choose a specific variant if its current packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ and its allergen information meets your requirements.
Individual packs can be handy for a day out, but even chocolate biscuits in small portions come with storage advice. Jumbo says Schär Choco Chip Cookies come in packs of three biscuits.
If needed, take unopened portions with you and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Check the specific variant for each brand: a brand name or biscuit range alone doesn’t confirm that every product is gluten-free.
Digestives Melkchocolade is an option if you’re looking for a gluten-free digestive with a clear claim on the packaging.
The Chocolate Chip Cookies are an option if you’re looking for this type of biscuit and want to take its production method into account.
Oaties Melkchocolade is an oat biscuit sold as gluten-free, with a milk chocolate coating, for anyone looking for that combination.
Lotus describes Biscoff as a caramelised biscuit. That description doesn’t make it a gluten-free chocolate biscuit.
A gluten-free range doesn’t prove that a particular chocolate biscuit meets your requirements.
ALDI has a general biscuit range, but a chocolate biscuit in that range isn’t gluten-free simply because it’s part of the range.
No. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the claim ‘gluten-free’ may be used when the food as sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. For your choice, check the claim on the biscuit’s current packaging.
No, don’t choose a biscuit based on the word ‘oat’ alone. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 also sets conditions for oats in products presented as gluten-free, including the need to avoid contamination with wheat, rye and barley during production, preparation or processing. So check for a gluten-free claim on the packaging. Verkade sells Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free, but the product also contains milk and soya.
No, lactose-free doesn’t automatically mean free from milk or nuts. For the Céréal chocolate biscuits sold as gluten-free and lactose-free, Jumbo says the product may contain milk and nuts, among other things. Check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings for every variant you choose.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the biscuit you choose. The product information from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and Schär says to store the chocolate biscuits discussed in a cool, dry and/or dark place. Unopened individual packs can be handy to take with you; don’t leave chocolate biscuits in a hot car or direct sunlight for long periods.
Use online product information to compare biscuits, but also check the physical packaging you’re buying. Albert Heijn says that product, ingredient and allergen information for its Glutenvrij Chocolate Chip Cookies may change.
