If you have coeliac disease, choose a chocolate biscuit that is explicitly labelled gluten-free on the current packaging; an ingredients list that simply contains no wheat is not a substitute. Then check for other allergens, and consider the portion size and packaging you want to take in your gym bag. A gluten-free biscuit is not automatically lactose-free or free from milk, soya or nuts.
When choosing a biscuit for your gym bag, the gluten-free label on the packaging matters more than the brand or flavour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses that people with coeliac disease should check the labels of gluten-free products.
As well as gluten, check ingredients such as milk and soya, and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens. Gluten-free on its own says nothing about these separate considerations. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises people with food allergies to read the label.
You want to know how many biscuits you’re taking, rather than putting a whole pack in your bag. For example, Jumbo lists Schär Choco Chip Cookies as 11 g per biscuit, with nine biscuits per pack. Check the packaging for other products.
If you need to avoid gluten, start by checking for a gluten-free label. Then check for other allergens separately, and consider how many biscuits you can conveniently take with you. A handy portion size never replaces checking the label.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the current packaging to make sure the biscuit is explicitly labelled gluten-free. If it contains oats, don’t rely on the ingredient name alone. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to take a chocolate biscuit without assuming it’s gluten-free based on the product name alone. Around 50% of consumers put this gluten-free choice first. |
| Other allergens | Check the ingredients and any statements about allergens that are present or may be present. Don’t take lactose-free to mean free from all allergens. | If I also need to check for milk, soya or nuts, I need more than a single claim on the front of the pack. For around 30% of consumers, these additional restrictions are a priority. |
| Portion size and packaging | Compare the net weight, the number of biscuits and any stated weight per biscuit. Check whether the packaging is suitable for taking with you. | For my gym bag, I want to be able to decide in advance how many biscuits to pack. This is the main practical consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with gluten. So if you have coeliac disease, seeing oats listed as an ingredient is no substitute for a gluten-free label.
Choose an oat biscuit that is explicitly labelled gluten-free on the current packaging, and check the label again every time you buy it.
A gluten-free chocolate biscuit may still contain milk or soya. Likewise, a lactose-free description doesn’t mean a product is free from milk protein or other allergens.
Use the gluten-free label as your first check, then read the ingredients and allergen information for any other restrictions that apply to you.
The packaging of the product you actually buy is what matters when checking its ingredients and allergens. A product description you read earlier may not match a later pack.
Read the label on the pack you’ve bought before putting the biscuits in your gym bag.
When you’re out and about, it’s harder to tell how many biscuits you’ve packed from a larger box. A stated weight per biscuit can help you plan a portion, but it tells you nothing about gluten or other allergens.
Decide at home how many biscuits to take, and keep them in clean, tightly sealed packaging, separate from snacks containing gluten.
These examples show some of the different product features to look out for. Always check the specific product and its current packaging, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Albert Heijn lists the Gluten-free Oaties milk chocolate biscuits as oat biscuits with a milk chocolate coating, in a 150 g pack.
Jumbo describes its 150 g chocolate biscuits as gluten-free and lactose-free.
For its 100 g gluten-free Choco Chip Cookies, Jumbo lists a weight of 11 g per biscuit and nine biscuits per pack.
Albert Heijn lists 160 g Chocolate chip cookies in this product range.
Jumbo lists 165 g Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade in this range.
This selection features gluten-free oat biscuits with milk chocolate. If you also need to avoid lactose or certain allergens, check the ingredients of this variety separately before choosing it for your gym bag.
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An option if you’re specifically looking for gluten-free oat biscuits with milk chocolate to take with you. The pack contains 150 g; the product contains milk and soya and may contain nuts. Check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the pack you buy.
No. Gluten can also come from other grains. If you have coeliac disease, choose a chocolate biscuit that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current packaging, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
An oat biscuit is only an option if the product itself is labelled gluten-free; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary oats can come into contact with gluten. So check the label and ingredients on the packaging rather than relying on the word ‘oats’ alone.
No. Lactose-free doesn’t mean there is no milk protein present or that it couldn’t be present. If you have a milk allergy, check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the specific pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking this information for food allergies.
Choose your portion in advance and take the biscuits in their sealed original packaging or in clean, resealable packaging. Keep them separate from snacks containing gluten, and follow any storage instructions on the pack.
No. The gluten-free label doesn’t describe the biscuit’s full nutritional value. If that matters to your choice, compare the nutritional information for the specific products on the same basis, for example per 100 g or per portion.
