Who is this choice relevant to?

Planning a treat for a child with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit labelled gluten-free, so a standard biscuit containing wheat doesn’t accidentally end up in the treat bag.

A parent who needs to check for several allergens

As well as gluten, milk, egg, hazelnut, soya or other ingredients may matter to children in the class. A gluten-free label doesn’t answer those questions.

Planning a class treat

You want to know what the school has agreed about treats and how many biscuits you’ll need. The Dutch Coeliac Society lists treats as one situation in which primary school children with coeliac disease may encounter food provided by others.

What should you look for?

Start by checking that the exact variety is labelled gluten-free. Then check for other allergens, and only after that consider the flavour and portion size.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important for?
Gluten-free label Check that the exact variety is labelled ‘gluten-free’ and read the ingredients on the packaging. If a child with coeliac disease is sharing the treats, I want to avoid packing an ordinary wheat biscuit as an alternative by mistake. For around 42% of consumers, confirmed suitability for a gluten-free diet comes first.
Other allergens and class arrangements Ask about the school or class arrangements and read the allergen information on the packaging. If other children in the class have allergies or intolerances, I want to know whether the same biscuit is suitable for them. For around 33% of consumers, other allergens and class arrangements are the top priority.
Flavour and portions Compare chocolate chips with a milk chocolate coating, and check the number of biscuits or stated portions. When filling treat bags, I want to know how many biscuits I can hand out once I’ve checked the ingredients. Around 25% of consumers prioritise the practical choice of flavour and portions.

‘Wheat-free’ and ‘gluten-free’ are not interchangeable labels. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 for the ‘gluten-free’ claim. So, when choosing a treat for a child with coeliac disease, check that the product you’re actually buying is labelled gluten-free, rather than relying on the brand name alone.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Assuming a trusted brand means a gluten-free guarantee

    Different varieties from the same brand can contain different ingredients. According to Lotus Bakeries, Lotus Biscoff Original contains wheat flour; Verkade lists wheat flour and wheat starch in Smiles, but describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free.

    Check the exact variety. Don’t include a standard biscuit containing wheat as a gluten-free alternative for a child with coeliac disease.

  • Stopping at ‘gluten-free’

    Other allergens still matter. Albert Heijn lists egg, milk and hazelnut, among other ingredients, for AH Glutenvrij Chocolate chip cookies; Jumbo lists soya and possible traces of other allergens for Céréal Gluten-Free & Lactose-Free Chocolate Biscuits.

    Ask which ingredients matter to the class, then read the allergen information on the packaging you’re going to hand out.

  • Confusing pack weight with the number of treats

    The pack weight and the portion information don’t tell you the same thing. Albert Heijn lists nine biscuits in a 100 g pack of Schär Choco Chip Cookies; AH Glutenvrij Chocolate chip cookies are listed as 160 g and nine portions.

    Check how many individual biscuits are in the pack you’ve chosen before filling the treat bags.

  • Relying only on a product page you viewed earlier

    Albert Heijn warns that ingredient and allergen information can change. So an ingredients list you viewed earlier may not match the packaging you buy.

    Check the label on the pack you actually bought again just before packing the treats.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Compare the varieties listed individually: a gluten-free product doesn’t automatically mean that every biscuit from the same brand is gluten-free.

Verkade

Oaties Milk Chocolate is a different option from the standard Smiles biscuits.

  • Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free, with gluten-free oats and 25% milk chocolate.
  • According to the manufacturer, Verkade Smiles contains wheat flour and wheat starch, so it shouldn’t be included in a gluten-free selection.

Schär

Choco Chip Cookies are a chocolate chip option labelled gluten-free.

  • Albert Heijn lists nine biscuits in a 100 g pack for this specific variety.
  • The product information lists soya; check the packaging if other allergens are relevant to the class.

Céréal

The 150 g Chocolate Biscuits are worth considering if lactose also needs to be avoided.

  • Jumbo describes this variety as gluten-free and lactose-free.
  • Jumbo lists soya and possible traces of egg, milk and nuts, among other allergens. Lactose-free doesn’t mean you can skip checking for these allergens.

AH Glutenvrij

Chocolate chip cookies are an own-brand option labelled gluten-free.

  • Albert Heijn states that these biscuits are made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • According to Albert Heijn, this variety contains egg, milk and hazelnut. Check the current packaging, as product information can change.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Digestives Milk Chocolate are gluten-free biscuits with milk chocolate.

  • Jumbo lists this variety as gluten-free and gives a pack size of 165 g.
  • The product information lists milk, oats and soya, and warns that it may contain nuts.

A Joybuy product for this treat

This gluten-free oat biscuit with milk chocolate is suitable for a treat where those ingredients are appropriate. Before handing them out, also check for other allergens and the number of biscuits in the pack.

Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g pack

Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g

A good option for a treat where a gluten-free oat biscuit with milk chocolate is suitable. Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free; the pack contains 150 g.

The product information lists milk, oats and soya, and warns that it may contain nuts. Check the current packaging and see how many biscuits are inside if you’re making individual treat bags.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is ‘wheat-free’ enough for a treat for a child with coeliac disease?

No. Choose a specific variety labelled gluten-free and check the pack you’ve bought. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 for the ‘gluten-free’ claim; a product name that simply indicates the absence of wheat doesn’t answer the question.

Why should I read the label if the online shop says ‘gluten-free’?

Checking the label on the pack you’ve bought is part of making sure everything is suitable before packing. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check again for any other allergens relevant to the class, too.

What other allergens might these gluten-free chocolate biscuits contain?

It varies by variety. Albert Heijn lists egg, milk and hazelnut in AH Glutenvrij Chocolate chip cookies; for Lekker Vrij Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, oats and soya and warns that it may contain nuts. Always check the current packaging for the product you choose.

Should I check with the school before packing the treats?

Ask in advance what school and class arrangements apply to treats and what allergen information is needed. The Dutch Coeliac Society lists treats as a relevant situation for primary school children with coeliac disease.

How should I store the biscuits until it’s time to hand them out?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the variety you choose. Albert Heijn advises storing its Glutenvrij Chocolate chip cookies in a cool, dark and dry place; Jumbo also recommends keeping Lekker Vrij Digestives Milk Chocolate cool, dry and dark.