Who are these options relevant to?

Night-shift workers with coeliac disease

You want to be able to take a chocolate biscuit with you, but the gluten-free label and current packaging take priority over taste or packaging type.

People who also avoid lactose

As well as being gluten-free, the biscuit must be explicitly labelled lactose-free. Check separately whether any other ingredients or allergens are relevant to you.

Workers who plan their break-time snacks in advance

A small, measured portion is handy if you want to decide before your night shift what to take for a break.

What should you look for when choosing?

For someone with coeliac disease, a gluten-free label is essential. Only then should you compare other allergens, portion sizes and pack sizes.

What to consider What to check Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free label Check the label, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the option you’ve chosen. If I have coeliac disease, I only choose a biscuit for my break once I’ve checked the current packaging. Around 39% of consumers put this check first.
Additional dietary restrictions Check separately for a lactose-free label and read the full allergen information. If I also avoid lactose or need to consider other allergens, gluten-free alone isn’t enough. For around 23% of consumers, this additional restriction is the first thing they consider.
Portion size and nutritional value Check how many biscuits are in the pack and compare the nutritional information per portion. For a short break during a night shift, I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take. For around 23% of consumers, a measured snack portion is a priority.
Packaging and availability Check the pack weight and number of portions, and make sure your chosen option is available. I want to be able to take enough suitable portions for my planned shifts without having to choose a different biscuit on the day. For around 15% of consumers, this practical planning matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens

    A gluten-free chocolate biscuit may still contain milk, soya or nuts, or carry a warning that it may contain traces of other allergens.

    As well as checking the gluten-free label, read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for the exact product.

  • Treating a chocolate biscuit as a complete night-shift snack

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snacks contain sugar or saturated fat. A gluten-free label says nothing about the nutritional value of your snack.

    Check the nutritional information per portion and decide in advance how the biscuit fits into what you eat during your shift.

  • Relying only on the online ingredients list

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, ingredients and allergen information can change. So a product page you viewed earlier is no substitute for the packaging.

    When your order arrives, read the label on the packaging before eating the product, especially if you have coeliac disease or need to avoid several allergens.

Brands with relevant options

Verkade

Verkade makes gluten-free Oaties in plain and milk chocolate varieties. The milk chocolate variety is a 150 g oat biscuit.

  • According to the product information, the milk chocolate Oaties contain gluten-free oats.
  • They contain milk and soya and may contain nuts. Check the current label; gluten-free oats are not suitable for everyone with coeliac disease.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

This range includes 165 g Digestives Milk Chocolate, a gluten-free biscuit option with chocolate.

  • Jumbo states that each pack contains ten portions and 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The Digestives contain milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts.

Céréal

Jumbo labels the chocolate biscuits described as both gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • A separate lactose-free label is useful if you avoid lactose as well as gluten.
  • The biscuits contain soya and may contain milk and nuts, among other allergens. According to the product information, this option is not suitable for people with galactosaemia.

Schär

The Choco Chip Cookies described are gluten-free; Jumbo states that each pack contains three biscuits.

  • Knowing how many biscuits are in the pack can help if you want to measure out a small snack for your break in advance.
  • This option contains soya. Also check the nutritional information when comparing portions.

Milk chocolate oat biscuits at Joybuy

This product is a good fit if you’re looking for a gluten-free oat biscuit with milk chocolate as a snack during a night shift. Before eating it, check that oats and the other ingredients are suitable for you.

Verkade Gv Oaties milk chocolate, 150 g

Verkade Gv Oaties milk chocolate, 150 g

A gluten-free oat biscuit with milk chocolate for a planned break-time snack.

Contains milk, oats and soya, and may contain nuts. Some people with coeliac disease also react to oat protein (avenin). Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before eating.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is ‘gluten-free’ just a marketing term on chocolate biscuits?

No. European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 sets requirements for information about the absence or reduced presence of gluten in food. If you have coeliac disease, always check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the current packaging.

Can a gluten-free chocolate biscuit also be lactose-free?

Yes, but check for a lactose-free label separately. Jumbo labels the Céréal chocolate biscuits described as both gluten-free and lactose-free, while some other gluten-free options contain milk. Be sure to check the other allergen information for Céréal too.

Does gluten-free mean there are no other allergens?

No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists milk, soya and nuts among the allergens that must be declared. Read the allergen information for the biscuit you’ve chosen rather than assuming other properties from the gluten-free label.

How should I take chocolate biscuits with me for a night shift?

Take them in an undamaged, sealed pack and reseal it properly after opening. The product information described recommends storing the biscuits in a cool, dry place; also check the instructions on the packaging you’re taking with you.