If you’re hosting a guest with coeliac disease, choose crackers that are clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ on the packaging. Serve them separately if you’re also putting ordinary biscuits or bread on the table. Then think about the snacks you’d like to make: a thin cracker works well with a small amount of light topping, while with seeded or cheese varieties, you should check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack.
They want to choose a clearly labelled gluten-free product and avoid crumbs from ordinary biscuits or bread getting onto the crackers or toppings. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends keeping gluten-free products sealed where possible, or opening them last.
They’re looking for crackers to suit their chosen toppings and portion size. A thin cracker for a small bite calls for a different presentation from a seeded or cheese variety; the ingredients in these varieties need to be checked separately.
As well as eating gluten-free, they may have a preference or restriction relating to other ingredients. They’ll need information about the exact variety: the ‘gluten-free’ label alone says nothing about other allergens.
When you’re having coffee with a guest who has coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label on the packaging before choosing toppings or portion sizes. Also consider how you’ll serve the crackers separately from foods containing gluten.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing and serving gluten-free | Check that the packaging says ‘gluten-free’. If you’re also serving ordinary biscuits or bread, use a separate plate, clean utensils and separate toppings. | When someone with coeliac disease is joining me, I want to be sure which pack is for them and keep crumbs from other food away. This is the main concern for around 36% of consumers. |
| Shape and toppings | Look at the cracker’s shape and size, and check the ingredients of the variety. Match the amount of topping to the bite you want to serve. | When making topped bites, I want to prepare portions that sit neatly on a plate without overloading the cracker. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this choice above all. |
| Other dietary requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, even if it says ‘gluten-free’. | If a guest also needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check each pack to see what’s suitable. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Check the pack size and packaging format, as well as the storage instructions for opened crackers. | When I prepare snacks in advance, I want to open only what’s needed and store the rest separately. Convenience is a priority for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs and shared utensils can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.
Use a clean, separate serving area and separate toppings. Keep the crackers sealed until just before serving, or open them last.
The absence of wheat from a product name doesn’t confirm that a cracker is gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society says the ‘gluten-free’ label applies to products containing less than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose crackers based on the gluten-free label on the current packaging, not just the type of cracker or another claim.
Crackers containing ingredients such as cheese or sesame may still include ingredients that matter to another guest, even if they’re labelled gluten-free.
Ask about any other dietary restrictions and check the ingredients and allergen information for every variety you serve.
A supermarket own-brand range that includes Luchtige Crackers in a 130 g pack.
A range of different cracker varieties, including cheese crackers and organic crackers with sesame and chia seeds.
A brand offering thin gluten-free crackers in a pack of 6 x 35 g.
The brand offers a gluten- and lactose-free classic cracker in individual portions.
Don’t rely on ‘wheat-free’ alone: check that the cracker packaging says ‘gluten-free’. The Dutch Coeliac Society says this label applies to products containing less than 20 mg of gluten per kg.
Serve the gluten-free crackers in a clean, separate area with clean utensils and separate toppings. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends keeping gluten-free products sealed where possible, or opening them last, to reduce the chance of crumbs from other food getting onto them.
Yes, but check the gluten-free label and the ingredients on the exact packaging. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that oats in a product carrying this label must be specially produced, prepared or processed to avoid contamination with wheat, rye and barley.
Choose according to the snack you want to serve and the ingredients your guests can eat. Schär describes its crackers as thin; with a seeded variety, such as Albert Heijn’s sesame and chia crackers, it’s especially important to consider the ingredients and allergen information when choosing toppings.
