Who are these options suitable for?

Shoppers who prioritise the gluten-free label

If you have coeliac disease or another reason to strictly avoid gluten, the claim on the current packaging takes priority over your preference for a particular chocolate flavour.

Chocolate biscuit fans looking for a treat at home

If you fancy something chocolatey late in the evening, you can choose between a biscuit with a chocolate coating, chocolate chips or several types of chocolate. You’ll need to check the label separately for milk, soya and nuts.

Shoppers who consider portion size or other ingredients

An individually wrapped biscuit makes the portion clear from the outset. If you also need to avoid, for example, lactose or a particular allergen, check that information separately from the gluten-free claim.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing a gluten-free chocolate biscuit for a late-night snack, check the packaging first. What matters most after that depends on what you’re looking for in your snack.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free claim Check the current packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ claim or the Crossed Grain symbol, and check the ingredients for wheat, rye and barley. If I need to avoid gluten because of coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the product name or where it’s displayed in the shop. Roughly 50% of shoppers prioritise this label check.
Type of chocolate Compare a chocolate coating with chocolate chips, and check the allergen information for milk, soya and nuts, among other things. For my late-night snack, I’m mainly looking for a biscuit with the type of chocolate I enjoy. Around 30% of shoppers prioritise this flavour preference.
Portion size and other dietary requirements Check the number of biscuits and the amount per portion; read the allergen statement and any ‘may contain’ warning separately. I want to know in advance how many biscuits I’ll have, or I need to avoid another ingredient as well as gluten. For roughly 20% of shoppers, an additional requirement like this is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a familiar biscuit has a gluten-free version

    A brand name doesn’t tell you whether a product is gluten-free. Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff Original, so it isn’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease looking for a gluten-free option.

    Before buying, check the gluten-free claim and ingredients on the packaging of the exact product you’ve chosen.

  • Confusing gluten-free with free from other allergens

    A gluten-free chocolate biscuit may still contain milk, soya, egg or hazelnuts, for example. Lactose-free doesn’t mean a product is free from all other allergens either.

    Read the full allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for the ingredients you need to avoid.

  • Relying only on online product information

    Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn therefore advises checking the information on the packaging you buy.

    Use the product page to compare options, but check the label again before eating the biscuit.

  • Choosing a pack without checking the portion size

    A large pack and individually wrapped biscuits offer different ways to portion out a single biscuit for a late-night snack.

    Check the number of biscuits and the amount per portion. Albert Heijn lists four individually wrapped 30 g biscuits in its Twix Chocolate & caramel cookies gluten free pack.

Brands compared

Compare specific products rather than just brand names: gluten-free claims and allergens vary from one biscuit to another.

Verkade

Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate is a gluten-free oat biscuit with a milk chocolate coating.

  • Verkade lists gluten-free oat flakes and 25% milk chocolate for this product.
  • The biscuit also contains milk and soya; check the current packaging if you need to avoid these ingredients.

Albert Heijn Glutenvrij

AH Gluten-free Chocolate chip cookies combine milk chocolate chips with hazelnuts.

  • Albert Heijn lists 25% milk chocolate chips, 8% roasted hazelnuts and production in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • The product information lists egg, milk, lactose and hazelnuts among the allergens.

Schär

Schär Choco Chip Cookies are a gluten-free chocolate chip option featured in product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo.

  • The product information lists 12% chocolate and describes the biscuits as wheat-free and lactose-free.
  • Soya is listed as an allergen; the pack described contains nine biscuits.

Prewetts

Prewetts Quadruple Chocolate Cookies are a gluten-free option if you’re looking for several types of chocolate in one biscuit.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety contains four types of chocolate and has a chocolate coating.
  • The product information lists milk, soya and oats; nuts may be present.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original is a useful point of comparison, but it isn’t a gluten-free option for someone with coeliac disease.

  • According to Lotus Bakeries Netherlands, Original contains wheat flour, and the allergen information lists gluten.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be labelled ‘gluten-free’?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ claim may be used for food containing no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. When shopping, look for this claim on the current packaging rather than relying only on a product name or shop category.

Does gluten-free also mean lactose-free or nut-free?

No. The gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you whether a product contains lactose or nuts. Albert Heijn lists Schär Choco Chip Cookies as lactose-free, but names soya as an allergen; AH Gluten-free Chocolate chip cookies contain lactose and hazelnuts, among other ingredients. Always check the full allergen information for any ingredients you need to avoid.

How can I choose a set portion for a late-night snack?

Check the number of individually wrapped biscuits and the weight of each one on the packaging. Albert Heijn lists four individually wrapped 30 g biscuits in its Twix Chocolate & caramel cookies gluten free pack, so you know the portion in advance.

Should I follow the product page or the packaging label?

Use the current packaging for information about ingredients, nutrition and allergens. Albert Heijn notes that product information may change, so use the online description to compare products and check the pack you buy again.