Who is this relevant to?

Parents of children with coeliac disease

For a lunchbox, look for a biscuit that is explicitly labelled gluten-free. Check the label and ingredients on the packaging of the exact product you’re packing.

Shoppers checking for multiple allergens

If milk, soya, nuts or other allergens are also a concern, ‘gluten-free’ isn’t the only thing to check. Read the full allergen information for the option you choose.

Families looking for a chocolate option

You want a chocolate biscuit for school, without mistaking an ordinary wheat biscuit for a gluten-free alternative.

What should you look for?

Check the gluten-free label first, then look at other allergens and the school’s rules. After that, compare the type of chocolate biscuit and its packaging for the lunchbox.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Gluten-free for coeliac disease Look for ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging and read the ingredients for this exact product. With coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a brand name: I want to be sure about the biscuit going into the lunchbox. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this gluten-free check.
Other allergens and school rules Check for relevant allergens, including any milk, soya and nuts, and ask what the school allows. If other allergens matter too, the biscuit needs to suit both the child and the school’s rules. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this.
Chocolate option and packaging Compare the type of chocolate biscuit, pack size and gluten-free label for the option you choose. I’m looking for a practical chocolate biscuit to pack from among the gluten-free options. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a brand name proves a product is gluten-free

    Products from the same brand can differ: Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free, while Verkade Maria contains wheat flour.

    Check the label, ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you choose.

  • Confusing gluten-free with free from all allergens

    Product information for Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate lists milk, oats and soya, and warns that it may contain nuts.

    Read the full allergen information and take your child’s needs and the school’s rules into account.

  • Only checking that a product doesn’t contain wheat

    For a lunchbox when you have coeliac disease, an explicit gluten-free label is more reassuring than just glancing at the ingredients list. The Dutch Coeliac Society also recommends looking for the Crossed Grain symbol.

    Choose a product labelled ‘gluten-free’ and check for any other relevant allergens too.

  • Relying solely on an online product page

    The packaging matters for the specific biscuits you’re giving your child. Ingredients and allergens can vary between products or recipes.

    Check the physical packaging again before packing the biscuit.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Verkade

Oaties Milk Chocolate is a chocolate-coated oat biscuit to consider if you’re looking for a gluten-free biscuit for a lunchbox.

  • Verkade says this gluten-free option contains oat flakes, oat flour and 25% milk chocolate.
  • Check for milk and soya, and read the warning that it may contain nuts. Other Verkade biscuits aren’t automatically gluten-free; Maria contains wheat flour.

Schär

Schär offers several chocolate-focused biscuits, including Choco Butterkeks, Choco Chip Cookies, Chocolate O's and Digestive Choc.

  • The range offers a choice of different biscuit and chocolate styles.
  • Check the gluten-free label and all other allergens on each pack. The characteristics of one option don’t automatically apply to another.

Albert Heijn Vrij van / AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn’s gluten-free biscuit range includes both its own products and biscuits from specialist brands.

  • You can compare own-brand chocolate chip biscuits and other gluten-free options with products from other brands.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for each product; the online range doesn’t tell you which option is available in a particular shop.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos is an example of an ordinary biscuit that isn’t suitable as a gluten-free alternative.

  • Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour as an ingredient in this standard option. Don’t choose it for a gluten-free school lunchbox.

Gluten-free chocolate biscuits on Joybuy

This selection features an oat biscuit with milk chocolate that is described as gluten-free. Check the current packaging and the school’s rules before adding it to a school lunchbox.

Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g pack

Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g

An option for a gluten-free school lunchbox if an oat biscuit with milk chocolate is suitable.

Verkade says this option is gluten-free and contains 25% milk chocolate. The pack contains 150 g.

Product information lists milk, oats and soya; it may contain nuts. Bear individual tolerance to oats in mind, and check the current packaging and the school’s rules.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a biscuit pack?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, ‘gluten-free’ means the product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. If you have coeliac disease, look for this label on the current packaging when choosing a product.

Is every oat biscuit suitable for a gluten-free lunchbox?

No. Oats can come into contact with gluten-containing grains during growing or processing. If you have coeliac disease, choose an oat biscuit that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and bear individual tolerance in mind.

Should I check for other allergens in a gluten-free chocolate biscuit?

Yes. A gluten-free chocolate biscuit may contain other relevant allergens. For Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate, the product information lists milk, oats and soya, and warns that it may contain nuts. Always read the information for the exact option you choose.

Can a gluten-free chocolate biscuit always be taken to school?

Not without checking the rules at that particular school. Ask what the rules are for lunchboxes, allergens and sharing or handing out food.

How can I spot an ordinary biscuit that isn’t a gluten-free alternative?

Check the ingredients and look for an explicit gluten-free label. According to their manufacturers, Verkade Maria and Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos contain wheat flour, so they aren’t suitable for a gluten-free lunchbox.