Who are these biscuits for?

People with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a chocolate biscuit explicitly labelled gluten-free. Check the packaging of the one you buy too, as its ingredients and allergens will determine whether it’s right for you.

People who want to check the oats

You want a biscuit with oats and chocolate, but only if the oats are labelled gluten-free and are suitable for you. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that even pure oats aren’t suitable for everyone with coeliac disease.

People with additional allergen requirements

As well as gluten, you may need to avoid milk, hazelnuts or soya, for example, or you may be looking for a lactose-free product. A gluten-free label doesn’t answer those separate questions.

What should you look for when choosing?

Check for a gluten-free label first. Then choose according to the oats, other allergens and how you plan to serve or take the biscuits with you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free label Look for an explicit label on the current packaging and read the ingredients. When I’m preparing breakfast for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a biscuit’s name or appearance. Around 36% of consumers make this their priority.
Oats Check whether the oats are labelled gluten-free and whether they’re suitable for the person eating them. I’d like to be able to choose a chocolate oat biscuit, but first I need to know whether oats are tolerated. This is the main consideration for around 22% of consumers.
Other allergens and lactose Check the allergen information for milk, egg, nuts and soya, among other things; check separately whether the product is lactose-free. A gluten-free biscuit doesn’t help if it contains another allergen I need to avoid. This additional requirement is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers.
Portion size and packaging Check the pack weight, the number of biscuits and whether they’re individually wrapped. For a shared breakfast, I want to know how many biscuits I’ll be putting out; if I’m taking some with me, I’ll check the packaging. Around 21% of consumers make this their main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a familiar biscuit is automatically gluten-free

    Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour in its classic Lotus Biscoff biscuits. A familiar brand name or chocolate flavour is no substitute for a gluten-free label.

    Check the label and ingredients for the exact variety you want to buy.

  • Assuming all oats are the same

    Oats in a biscuit must be labelled gluten-free separately. The Dutch Coeliac Society also says that some people with coeliac disease react to pure oats.

    If you can’t tolerate oats, choose an oat-free variety and check its label too.

  • Stopping your checks after looking for gluten

    Gluten-free biscuits can differ in their ingredients and allergens. For example, AH Gluten-free Chocolate chip cookies contain hazelnuts, while the information for Schär Choco Chip Cookies lists soya.

    After checking for a gluten-free label, read the full allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.

  • Treating a webshop description as the definitive label

    Ingredients and allergen information can change, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information.

    Use the webshop to compare options, but check the packaging of the biscuit you actually receive when you buy it.

Brands compared

Verkade

Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as a gluten-free chocolate oat biscuit.

  • The product specifications list gluten-free rolled oats and gluten-free oat flour.
  • The biscuit contains oats, milk and soya, and may contain nuts. Check that oats and these allergens are suitable for you.

AH Glutenvrij

AH Gluten-free Chocolate chip cookies are an oat-free option made with rice and maize flour, milk chocolate chips and hazelnuts.

  • According to Albert Heijn, this variety is produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • The product information lists egg, milk, lactose and hazelnuts. Check the current packaging.

Schär

Schär Choco Chip Cookies are described in the product information as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free.

  • The pack shown contains 100 g of biscuits with chocolate chips.
  • The product information lists soya; check the allergen statement on the packaging.

Céréal

Céréal Gluten-free & Lactose-free Chocolate Biscuits are an option if you want to avoid lactose as well as gluten.

  • The product description lists maize, teff and rice flour.
  • The product contains soya and may contain egg, nuts, sesame, lupin and milk proteins, among other things.

Lotus Biscoff

Classic Lotus Biscoff is a point of comparison, not a gluten-free choice.

  • Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour among the ingredients of its classic variety. Don’t choose it as a gluten-free chocolate biscuit for someone with coeliac disease.

Chocolate oat biscuit at Joybuy

This biscuit suits anyone looking for chocolate with gluten-free oats, provided the person eating it can tolerate oats and the other allergens are suitable.

Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g

Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g

A chocolate oat biscuit for anyone who can tolerate gluten-free oats.

The product information lists gluten-free oats and 25% milk chocolate. The biscuit contains milk and soya and may contain nuts; check the current packaging before serving.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose a chocolate biscuit made with gluten-free oats if I have coeliac disease?

Yes, if the oats are explicitly labelled gluten-free and you can tolerate them. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that some people with coeliac disease also react to pure oats. If you know that oats cause you problems, choose an oat-free variety and discuss your symptoms with a doctor or specialist dietitian.

Are classic Lotus Biscoff biscuits gluten-free?

No. Classic Lotus Biscoff isn’t a gluten-free alternative: Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour as an ingredient. Always check the ingredients and gluten-free label for other varieties.

Are gluten-free chocolate biscuits also lactose-free or nut-free?

Not automatically. According to the product information, AH Gluten-free Chocolate chip cookies contain milk, lactose and hazelnuts. Céréal describes its chocolate biscuits as lactose-free, but notes that they may contain nuts and milk proteins, among other things. So always read the allergen statement on the packaging you choose.

Why should I check the label again if I’ve already chosen online?

Because ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn notes this in its product information, so when you buy, let the packaging of the item you receive be the deciding factor.