If you’re choosing chocolate sprinkles for someone with coeliac disease, look for the words ‘gluten-free’ on the current packaging. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, this claim may only be used if the product, as sold to the consumer, contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag puur 400 g as gluten-free online; for a gift with several flavours, Dieetwebshop.nl offers a De Rit selection pack described as gluten-free. Before buying, also check the packaging for each variety for milk and any other allergens that matter to the recipient.
Check that the specific variety you’ve chosen is labelled gluten-free, rather than simply checking that wheat is absent from the ingredients list. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for the word ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the label.
Choose a pack that suits the recipient. As well as asking about coeliac disease, check whether they have any requirements or restrictions relating to milk, lactose, soya or veganism. If you’re buying a selection pack, check each flavour separately.
Choose an amount that works for bread, desserts or decoration. Check the gluten-free claim and ingredients on the exact pack again, even if you’ve looked at the product online before.
Start by checking the gluten-free claim on the exact variety. Then choose between a single pack and a gift set, and check which other ingredients matter to the recipient.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free certification on the packaging of the exact variety. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a familiar brand name alone. For around 50% of consumers, a clear gluten-free claim is the most important factor. |
| Gifts and other requirements | Check the ingredients and allergens in each flavour, especially if milk, lactose, soya or veganism are relevant. | When buying a gift, I want each flavour to suit the recipient. For around 30% of consumers, these additional requirements are the deciding factor. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the pack size and make sure the product on offer is the same variety labelled gluten-free. | For regular use, I want to be able to buy a suitable amount without switching varieties. Around 20% of consumers put practical convenience first when shopping. |
A brand name doesn’t confirm that every flavour or recipe is gluten-free. The De Ruijter varieties we looked at list their ingredients and allergens on their product pages, but the brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether they’re gluten-free.
Check the current packaging for the exact flavour and pack size you’re buying, and look for an explicit gluten-free claim.
Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and dietary or allergy information can change. That’s why the packaging you receive matters when making your final choice.
Before serving or giving the product as a gift, check the gluten-free claim, ingredients and allergens on the packaging again.
The De Rit selection pack contains a milk variety; the pure and extra pure varieties may also contain milk. ‘Gluten-free’ says nothing about whether a product is milk-free.
Ask the recipient which ingredients they need to avoid, and read the information for each variety in the pack.
Worth considering for a single pack: Albert Heijn’s online product information describes AH Hagelslag puur 400 g as gluten-free.
Dieetwebshop.nl describes the De Rit selection pack, which includes pure, milk and extra pure chocolate sprinkles, as gluten-free.
Xoco describes Xoco Hagelslag puur with 70% cocoa as both vegan and gluten-free.
Product information is available for De Ruijter varieties including milk chocolate sprinkles and Specials intens puur, but check whether each variety is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if, as sold to the consumer, it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check that the packaging of your chosen variety of chocolate sprinkles carries this claim.
No. The absence of a visible wheat ingredient isn’t the same as confirmation that a product is gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends looking for the word ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the label. If neither is shown, check the ingredients and any warnings about cross-contamination too.
Yes. A gluten-free claim says nothing about milk or lactose. According to Albert Heijn, AH Hagelslag puur contains milk and lactose; the De Rit selection pack includes a milk variety and notes that the other varieties may contain milk. So check the packaging of each variety you plan to give.
Check sweeteners separately from the gluten-free claim and allergens. Jumbo lists maltitols in Céréal Hagelslag Melk and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
